Online Gaming Giant Locks Vital Features

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, new missions, vehicles, and more.

Since GTA 5's 2013 launch, Rockstar Games has consistently added purchasable businesses to GTA Online (nightclubs, arcades, etc.), generating passive income. Previously, players had to manually collect this income from each business, a tedious process.

The Bottom Dollar Bounties update offers a convenient solution: remote income collection via the Vinewood Club app. However, this feature is exclusively available to GTA+ subscribers. Non-subscribers must still visit each business individually.

GTA+ Exclusivity Fuels Player Backlash

This move contradicts Rockstar's earlier assurances that gameplay features wouldn't be gated behind the GTA+ subscription, launched in 2022. Negative sentiment, amplified by a recent GTA+ price increase, has intensified with this latest development. Players worry this marks a trend, with future updates potentially locking more features behind the paywall to enhance GTA+'s value.

Concerns for GTA 6's Online Future

This situation raises concerns about the potential impact on the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 (Fall 2025 release). Rockstar hasn't detailed GTA 6's online component, but the current trajectory of GTA Online suggests GTA+ could play a larger role, potentially alienating players who resist subscription models. The future success of GTA+ will depend heavily on how Rockstar addresses these growing concerns.