GTA Online Update Hides Vital Features Behind Paywall

Grand Theft Auto Online's latest update sparks controversy by restricting remote business income collection to GTA+ subscribers. The recent Bottom Dollar Bounties DLC, released June 25th, introduced a bounty hunting business and other additions. However, a convenient new feature—remote collection of passive income from various businesses—is exclusively available to GTA+ members via the Vinewood Club app.

Since GTA 5's 2013 launch, Rockstar has consistently added purchasable businesses to GTA Online, each generating passive income requiring individual visits for collection. This new remote collection feature streamlines this process, but its GTA+ exclusivity is causing backlash.

This move contradicts previous assurances from Rockstar that gameplay features wouldn't be locked behind the GTA+ subscription. Negative player sentiment, amplified by a recent price increase for GTA+, has intensified with this latest development. Many fear this sets a concerning precedent for future updates, potentially leveraging GTA+ to gatekeep quality-of-life improvements.

The implications extend beyond GTA 5. The upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 (Fall 2025) has yet to detail its online component, but the current trajectory of GTA Online raises concerns about GTA+'s potential expansion into GTA 6's online mode. The future of GTA+ and its reception among players remains uncertain, particularly given the current negative sentiment surrounding the subscription service.