GTA Updates: Premium Features Now Unavailable Without Paywall

Grand Theft Auto Online's latest update sparks controversy by restricting remote business income collection to GTA+ subscribers. The Bottom Dollar Bounties update, released June 25th, introduced a bounty hunting business and other content. However, a convenient new feature – remotely collecting passive income from various businesses via the in-game Vinewood Club app – is exclusively available to GTA+ members. Non-subscribers must still manually visit each business.

Since GTA 5's 2013 release, Rockstar Games has consistently added purchasable businesses to GTA Online. While these businesses generate passive income, collecting it individually is time-consuming. The new remote collection feature addresses this, but only for paying subscribers.

This move contradicts Rockstar's earlier assurances that gameplay features wouldn't be exclusive to GTA+. Negative player sentiment, amplified by a recent GTA+ price increase, has intensified with this latest development. Concerns are rising that Rockstar may increasingly lock quality-of-life improvements behind the paywall.

The implications extend beyond GTA 5. The upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 (Fall 2025) raises questions about its online component. Given GTA Online's current trajectory, the possibility of GTA+ integration into GTA 6's online mode, perhaps with an expanded role, is a significant concern for many players. The future of GTA+ and player reception remain uncertain.