GTA Online Players Face Unexpected Bans Across All Platforms

A new exploit in GTA Online is affecting players across all platforms, leading to bans and bad sport lobby placements.

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It appears that no one is safe from the latest exploit that's hit Grand Theft Auto Online. According to reports from multiple accounts on social media, particularly X, there's an ongoing problem with GTA Online that's seen many YouTubers and casual players placed in the bad sport lobby and even get banned from playing the game just for being online.

Grand Theft Auto content creator Arsen Y is one of the more high-profile individuals to have fallen victim to the latest hacking issue. During a livestream, the YouTuber saw his cash/RP adjusted by someone from Rockstar Games Services, eventually leading to a ban.

What's worse is that many other players are reporting facing similar issues on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC, whether you're playing on a public lobby or an invite-only lobby because the exploit happens through the Rockstar Games Social Club.

For a long time, PlayStation and Xbox players of Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online didn't have to worry from such exploits. Grand Theft Auto V Expanded and Enhanced reinforced Rockstar Games' security measures on consoles, adding another layer of protection. Over the past year, Rockstar has made significant efforts to bring the PC version of GTA V on par with consoles in terms of features and level of security.

So far, GTA V on PC, with the latest release of Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced, should be just as protected from such incidents, especially with the addition of BattlEye.

Alas, it appears that everyone playing GTA Online on all platforms is affected by this, which has been ongoing for at least a week now.

Unfortunately, as speculated by @billysliamgta, this might be an inside job done by a "rogue R* Support agent." These official Rockstar employees can make the same kinds of adjustments to player accounts that banned players have been received. They can also ban players guilty of taking advantage of exploits that undermine the integrity of the game.

If it's true that someone working for Rockstar is to blame for this, then it couldn't have come at a worse time as Take-Two Interactive prepares to roll out a more extensive marketing campaign for Grand Theft Auto 6.

It's one thing for these exploits and hacks to hit GTA Online on PC. It's another for it to affect players on PS5 and Xbox Series S/X as well. Because of how widespread this issue has become, Rockstar may have to bring down the proverbial hammer on GTA Online hackers like never before.