GTA+ Service Restricts Features in Online Gameplay

Grand Theft Auto Online's recent Bottom Dollar Bounties update has sparked controversy among players due to a new restriction on passive income collection. The update, released June 25th, introduced a convenient feature allowing GTA+ subscribers to remotely collect earnings from their various business holdings via the in-game Vinewood Club app. This eliminates the need to manually visit each individual business.

However, this quality-of-life improvement is exclusively available to GTA+ subscribers. Non-subscribers must still individually collect their passive income, a process many found tedious even before this update. This decision contradicts previous assurances from Rockstar Games that gameplay features wouldn't be locked behind the GTA+ paywall.

The move has fueled negative sentiment surrounding GTA+, particularly following a recent price increase. Players are expressing concerns that Rockstar may increasingly restrict core gameplay elements to subscribers in future updates, thereby incentivizing GTA+ subscriptions.

This practice raises concerns about the future of Rockstar's upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, slated for a Fall 2025 release. While details about GTA 6's online component remain scarce, the current trajectory of GTA Online suggests the potential for a more prominent role for GTA+ in the sequel. The reception to this subscription service will undoubtedly shape player expectations and the overall success of any similar model in future Rockstar titles. The ongoing debate highlights the tension between monetization strategies and player satisfaction within the popular GTA Online experience.