Grand Theft Auto Online's latest update, Bottom Dollar Bounties, introduces a controversial change impacting passive income collection. The update, released June 25th, adds a bounty hunting business and other content. However, the convenience of remotely collecting earnings from owned businesses is now exclusively available to GTA+ subscribers.
Since GTA 5's 2013 launch, Rockstar Games has consistently expanded GTA Online with purchasable businesses. These businesses generate passive income, traditionally requiring players to visit each location individually for collection – a tedious process. The Bottom Dollar Bounties update simplifies this, but only for GTA+ members. The Vinewood Club app now offers a centralized option to claim all business earnings remotely for subscribers. Non-subscribers remain bound to the older, less efficient method.
This decision contradicts previous assurances from Rockstar that gameplay features wouldn't be exclusive to GTA+ subscribers. The already controversial GTA+, recently facing criticism after a price increase, now faces further backlash. The exclusion of this quality-of-life improvement fuels concerns about future updates potentially locking more features behind the paywall, further incentivizing GTA+ subscriptions.
This situation raises concerns about the future of Rockstar's online experiences. The upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, slated for a Fall 2025 release, has yet to reveal its online component. However, GTA Online's current trajectory suggests a potential, and possibly expanded, role for GTA+ in GTA 6's online mode. The reception of this model will be crucial, especially given the current negative sentiment surrounding GTA+. The future success of GTA+ hinges on addressing player concerns and avoiding further alienation.
