In a move likely to frustrate many Grand Theft Auto fans, Rockstar Games has announced a price increase for its GTA+ subscription service. The monthly membership, which provides exclusive in-game bonuses and perks for GTA Online players, will now cost $7.99 per month – a $2 jump from the previous $5.99 price point.
The increase, which goes into effect on June 11, 2024, was spotted by players on the Xbox and PlayStation digital storefronts, with Rockstar offering no prior warning or official announcement about the change. This sudden price hike is sure to reignite criticism from those already skeptical of the GTA+ program, which has been viewed by some as an unwelcome layer of monetization for the decade-old Grand Theft Auto V.
However, Rockstar appears to be attempting to offset the sting of the price increase by continually expanding the service’s value proposition. In recent months, the company has bundled in access to a growing catalog of classic Rockstar titles, including Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, Red Dead Redemption, and soon, L.A. Noire and Bully.
Additionally, GTA+ members are currently receiving a monthly bonus of $1 million in-game currency, with the promise of a new complimentary supercar arriving alongside a major GTA Online update this summer. Rockstar’s evident efforts to sweeten the deal for subscribers may be enough to convince some players to stomach the higher subscription cost.
The GTA+ price hike also arrives amidst a broader trend of rising prices for gaming subscription services. Both Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass and Sony’s PlayStation Plus have seen significant increases in the past year, while Electronic Arts recently announced a $1-2 per month price jump for EA Play.
Ultimately, Rockstar’s decision to quietly raise the GTA+ fee without warning is sure to ruffle feathers in the Grand Theft Auto community. But the studio will be hoping that the ever-expanding list of perks and bundled games can help offset the backlash and keep players engaged with the controversial subscription offering. As the industry continues to shift toward recurring revenue models, GTA+ appears poised to remain a point of contention for Rockstar’s most ardent fans.
