The combination of a major content update and a temporary removal of the PS Plus requirement sent the decade-old game soaring past new releases in June.
Grand Theft Auto V climbed significantly up PlayStation's download charts in June 2025, reaching second place in the US/Canada PS5 charts and third in Europe. This was a noticeable jump from its previous fifth and fourth place positions, respectively.
The surge directly correlates with GTA Online's Money Fronts update, which launched on June 17. The update introduced San Andreas' biggest money laundering operation, allowing players to acquire three new businesses: Hands On Car Wash in Strawberry, Higgins Helitours, and Smoke on the Water Prescription Cannabis.
Sony amplified this momentum by temporarily removing the PlayStation Plus requirement for GTA Online from June 18 for two weeks. This strategic move allowed all PlayStation users to access the online experience without an active membership, opening the game to players who had been subscription-blocked.
While Death Stranding 2: On the Beach topped North America and Rematch dominated Europe, GTA V's performance continues to prove the game's remarkable staying power. The Rockstar Games title outperformed numerous newer releases across both regions.
On PS4, GTA V also climbed to third place in North America and fourth in Europe, competing successfully against titles like Star Wars Battlefront II and Red Dead Redemption 2.
Targeted content updates combined with accessibility initiatives can revitalize even decade-old games, and Rockstar has mastered this to an art form. The Money Fronts update didn't just add gameplay mechanics. Like all major GTA Online updates before it, it reminded players why Los Santos remains a place to go back to.
For a game released in 2013, GTA V continues to defy conventional wisdom about gaming longevity, proving the effectiveness of Rockstar's live-service strategy.
