Why Grand Theft Auto Online Players Aren't Happy About the New Subscription Service

Recently, Grand Theft Auto Online made the leap to next-generation platforms. To keep up with modern blockbusters, Rockstar packaged the re-release with some neat upgrades that take advantage of the newer hardware, such as high-definition 4K resolution, 60 FPS, and ray tracing for select consoles. However, while these features were welcomed by the community, Rockstar's latest paid subscription service is an addition many gamers aren't happy about.

For the uninitiated, GTA+ is a subscription service that will release only for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X version of GTA Online. Set to roll out across digital storefronts on March 29, the main selling point of the membership program is to provide both new and experienced players on the latest consoles with "valuable benefits" and "member-only discounts." On top of this, GTA+ earns players a monthly in-game direct deposit of $500,000 to their Maze Bank account, plus the option to claim select business properties in and around the Los Santos area.

However, while Rockstar set GTA+ up to be a service that will aid casual players and win over other gamers initially put off GTA Online because of its steep financial entry barrier, it appears not everyone agrees with its upcoming inclusion. After all, one only has to check out the replies to Rockstar's official announcement tweet of the service to find that there is an overwhelming amount of fans who are vocally against its introduction.

To summarize the overall sentiments from the community to why GTA+ will have a negative impact on the gameplay experience, many feel locking in-game "exclusive rewards" behind a continual subscription fee is "greedy," as collectors and hardcore players will have no option but to purchase GTA+ if they wish to experience everything the game offers. Not only that, but it seems that players feel this addition is also pointless, as next-gen features such as the Grand Theft Auto Online Career Builder feature already do the job the service is set out to fulfill.

For those unfamiliar with the Career Builder feature, it is a start-up option for next-gen players that grants instant access to one of four Grand Theft Auto Online business properties, which are the Biker, Executive, Nightclub Owner, and Gunrunner enterprises. While this alone should be sufficient for most novices to get the ball rolling in the financial department, the Career Builder goes the extra mile by giving players a bonus of $4 million to kick-start their criminal empire.

In summary, since Grand Theft Auto Online's integration of the membership program is yet to be introduced in-game, players can only wait until March 29 to see exactly how it plays out. Nevertheless, it's clear that the community's reception to GTA+ is certainly divisive, and they are loudly expressing their views to Rockstar in retaliation