And Rockstar Games' apology tour continues. This time, they're making Grand Theft Auto Online more accessible by dropping the PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass requirements.
The change initially appeared without any prior notice from Rockstar or Sony, leaving players to discover it themselves (or after someone told them about it, like what we're doing for you right now). But a few hours later, Rockstar confirmed it themselves via an announcement.
It remains unclear if this is a permanent change to GTA Online or if it's merely a temporary promotion.
Insider PLTytus first reported about this change on the PlayStation Plus on X before confirming that the same applies to the Xbox Game Pass.
Other insiders, including @videogametechuk and @TezFunz2, retweeted PLTytus' claims, while someone went ahead and reached out to Rockstar Games Support to confirm this, to which they received a reply, saying:
At the moment, if you play on console, you will have access to GTA Online as a free trial starting today, November 11th, and ending on November 18th. You will also have free access to the game on Story Mode
Many Grand Theft Auto fans have long expressed frustration about how the game's availability through GTA+, Rockstar's premium subscription service, still required separate PS Plus and Xbox memberships on top of the GTA+ fees. Removing the online paywall restriction, even temporarily, suggests Rockstar is listening to player feedback.
With Grand Theft Auto 6 now delayed again, keeping the existing player base happy, engaged, and potentially expanding makes strategic sense for maintaining momentum and revenue during the extended wait.
So, what are you waiting for? Between November 11 and November 18, you'll be able to play GTA Online and enjoy its latest update if you're on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X.
A week isn't nearly enough to enjoy everything that GTA Online has to offer, especially if you're new to it. But it's more than enough time to know if it's more to your liking, especially with the help of our guides. Feel free to use this trial period to experience what you've missed or get back into the game after taking a hiatus.
