Introducing GTA+ - Reward-based Subscription for GTA Online

[clinical oppression]

I'll never pay into this.  That said this is just another version of shark cards . Since you can subscribe for a month ....cancel ....subscribe a different month .... there's some perks that may make it worth the 6 bucks to some people some months .  

Won't be me .... but idgaf if others wanna jump on it or that RS is offering it . 

[suicidal_banana]

4 minutes ago, IzzyBlues said:

I know this is OT but is the new 2 hour WorldWide FM mix a part of the original Worldwide FM radio station? That track list would be pushing 3 or 4 hours, no?

 

Honestly not sure about that specific station, but every "music update" they've done in the past few DLC also involved removing other music from the game that they apparently no longer have the license for, they just dont give that nearly as much attention as the adding new songs part. It's kind of obvious that somebody said something along the lines of "These new kids with their facetats and autotune are much cheaper compared to keeping these old classics, lets use that" Also worth mentioning, R* is apparently a music label now? that's probably some other scheme to get even cheaper music.

 

I'm fairly sure a year from now all the good songs will be long gone & they only have to pay ~10% of what they do now in license fee's.

[SeventyRanger42]

Im on Xbox One, and I definitely don´t mind grinding Cayo Perico for the 5th time and not paying that sh*t subscription fee (since its only on next gen but they'll probably start locking content behind that paywall and when it does I'l give up on this game)

[EkaSwede]

Would they be so kind to OUTtroduce it instead?

 

Whole thing feels like an April Fool's joke.

[RyuNova]

39 minutes ago, EkaSwede said:

Would they be so kind to OUTtroduce it instead?

 

Whole thing feels like an April Fool's joke.

 

Seems to me like they intentionally want to push established players away from the game, the people that are too rich in the game for this to benefit. Lock stuff behind the GTA+ subscription, push players away and all that's left is the younger/newer players who know nothing but the boot.

[GTAJJ]

2 hours ago, TheGhostFromPast said:

Correction, minority won't purchase this. The majority, most likely, will buy this with pride, and they'll also find excuses to defend this, if they'll have to. 

 

I don't think so. With a solid portion of the community who are impressionable and could be likely to buy GTA+, also most likely follow in their favourite Youtuber's shoes. And a consensus seems to be that GTA+ is awful, at least this month. But when you compare the cost to make this months "bonuses" versus the sell point, it's basically free money. There is no loss for R* with GTA+ at least this month. As I posted earlier, most of the bonuses are integer changes that take mere seconds to change (probably hours finding it in their spaghetti code lol), which would've been part of an event for free and the items are something they would release anyways which will see the similar revenue, just now at a later date due to the time gate.

 

With that in mind, any sign up is pure profit if it's 1 person or 1 million people. The more who do buy it is just increasing revenue.

 

It reminds me of Hitman and when they released the 7 Sins Bundle. Basically the same thing, the "missions" were reskins of existing levels and they used existing programming rules that Escalations already have in the game (such as don't kill civs or maintain wearing your outfit). This stuff was typical in a free season roadmap of DLC, only now they marketed the same stuff as a "DLC" and charged 14.99 for it. Stuff they made that was so easy, they originally as free for 5 years, now decided to price it.

[Sandpanther]

So Rockstar wants me to fork out even more money for an eight year old game? The 'bonuses' for their crappy subscription aren't worth it in my opinion. Devaste Eight? Already own it. HSW upgrades for the other cars? I've already done that. Free 500k per month? I can make 2 mil in under 10 minutes with Cayo Perico. Free Autoshop move? I already have my Autoshop there. So no, sorry Rockstar, you won't be getting any more money from me.

[deathdealer]

On 3/26/2022 at 3:57 PM, Jason said:

Here's a question for people, what could they to make GTA+ something people are happy with?

 

Increase the monthly GTA$? Different types of benefits or bonuses? Anything?

 

Or are people simply put off at the thought of a subscription in a game?

 

 

My short answer is that I do not trust Modern R* in providing a subscription model that would ever satisfy the player.

 

my long answer:

 

I feel like if people buy into this, which all likelihood is a possibility because, let's face it, whales are everywhere in gaming, this would set R* down an even worse road that would surpass even the likes of EA and arguably they are already on that road.

I feel the days of carefully crafted single player experiences from R* are done. You might say it's nonsense and if this were R* during the GTA 4 days then I would agree but that R* is long gone with RDR2 being it's swansong. I feel the real reason why  VI is taking so long is because they are trying to find a way to incorporate online stuff into single player. You might say "deathdealer, you're being ridiculous, R* wouldn't do that." and I would say there was a time people would think R* wouldn't add a subscription service to online and there was a time people believed R* wouldn't add micro-transactions to their games so what's to stop them from doing something I suggest? Hell, R* don't even give a sh*t about the quality of their so called definitive editions of their games, the games that put them on the fricking map. Hell, the classic games were delisted, mods removed, and some modders, members of our very own forum, are being sued because they wanted to sell out the trash that they call the definitive edition.

[Ash_735]

1 hour ago, IzzyBlues said:

I know this is OT but is the new 2 hour WorldWide FM mix a part of the original Worldwide FM radio station? That track list would be pushing 3 or 4 hours, no?

The original mix is still there, same for FlyLo FM, the new mixes just play after and then loop back to the original mix, and yes, these stations are now over 4 hours long. LSUR was the first to break that barrier I think since each DJ mix is about an hour and half each. Crazy to think that some GTA Online radio stations are longer than the entire GTA3 soundtrack now.

[Nerfgoth]

2 hours ago, Zapper said:

There's a reason why no other AAA even attempted make something like RDR or GTAV or GTAO in last 8 years even though they are consistently popular and successful. It's a monumentally difficult and expensive endeavour to emulate GTA (or a modern Rockstar game), especially at the scale they operate on. And you won't even get the Rockstar/GTA branding either. It's not worth the risk for a company when they can make a F2P battle royale or something else.

 

I thought watch dog was going in to that or Cyberpunk...... If they just going to replicate online i think it is easier! Everything in GTAO is decent nothing special like a combat system in Call of Duty/Battlefield or racing in GT7 or any other racing game.....

[Muller147]

40 minutes ago, deathdealer said:

 

 

My short answer is that I do not trust Modern R* in providing a subscription model that would ever satisfy the player.

 

my long answer:

 

I feel like if people buy into this, which all likelihood is a possibility because, let's face it, whales are everywhere in gaming, this would set R* down an even worse road that would surpass even the likes of EA and arguably they are already on that road.

I feel the days of carefully crafted single player experiences from R* are done. You might say it's nonsense and if this were R* during the GTA 4 days then I would agree but that R* is long gone with RDR2 being it's swansong. I feel the real reason why  VI is taking so long is because they are trying to find a way to incorporate online stuff into single player. You might say "deathdealer, you're being ridiculous, R* wouldn't do that." and I would say there was a time people would think R* wouldn't add a subscription service to online and there was a time people believed R* wouldn't add micro-transactions to their games so what's to stop them from doing something I suggest? Hell, R* don't even give a sh*t about the quality of their so called definitive editions of their games, the games that put them on the fricking map. Hell, the classic games were delisted, mods removed, and some modders, members of our very own forum, are being sued because they wanted to sell out the trash that they call the definitive edition.

I'm not that at that level of cynicism yet (more fool me probably), I still trust they'll make a quality SP experience but it pisses me off that I know we will only receive that 1 dollop then basically get told 'now go to our online portion or get lost'.

L.A Noire will probably remain the last game associated with Rockstar to get a SP expansion, just checked now and The Consul's Car was the last one.

July 26, 2011, so 10 years, 8 months + 2 days and counting since we last saw SP in a Rockstar game receive some worthwhile additional content, that sh*te murder mystery or ridiculous animal photographing side mission added in the XB1/PS4 versions can't be classed as anything sizeable.

[Watain]

Another step closer to the grave for GTAO. To me anyways. The new ways they take GTAO in, I'ma be out before it hits the ultimate rock bottom.

[Jason]

30 minutes ago, Nerfgoth said:

I thought watch dog was going in to that or Cyberpunk...... If they just going to replicate online i think it is easier! Everything in GTAO is decent nothing special like a combat system in Call of Duty/Battlefield or racing in GT7 or any other racing game.....

 

GTA has always been a jack of all trades master of non in terms of gameplay mechanics, it won't be as good a shooter as CoD, or won't be as great a racer as GT or Forza, but there's a reason very few games do all the things GTA does while still having a highly detailed open world... Cause it costs about $200-300 million dollars, thousands of developers and about 5-7 years of development time.

 

You can probably count the amount of studios on one hand that have ever had that level of resources, time and freedom. Rockstar, Blizzard... uh, that's probably it lol.

[Jenkiiii]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm now looking at my launch icon with a sinking feeling in my stomach, with added trepidation.

 

Normally, I jump straight in, possibly fueled by my gaming addiction, probably because the game is free and voluntary and it's my choice, but if.I have to pay a subscription it could drastically change that.

 

Sentiments like, I better load up GTA to get my money's worth, don't sit well with me. Perhaps it's psychological and just me? But it could have a negative effect that makes me play less instead of more. There's something very throwaway and superficial about the GTA+ concept. Shallow is an alternative word.

 

Surely it's not Rockstar's intention to get us to pay more and play less? That seems to go against the very core of GTA fandom, which will surely have negative repercussions if people feel squeezed and obligated?

 

Then again, I could be over thinking things?

 

 

[Exsanguination]

I dont know about you guys but I don’t have much money in this game… I bought it new for xbox360 and then the enhanced version for Xbox one when the price came down… I have less than $100 in the whole thing and it has brought me many many hours of entertainment/enjoyment. I think the shark cards are a horrible value so I simply do not buy them… likely won’t buy this subscription but if I thought it was worth it I would. 
 

apparently there’s a market for this stuff and it doesn’t bother me as long as it doesn’t become mandatory I won’t complain. 
 

 

[Spleeefy]

SPREAD THE WORD

its probaly not gonna work but we will try

[Nerfgoth]

5 minutes ago, Jason said:

 

GTA has always been a jack of all trades master of non in terms of gameplay mechanics, it won't be as good a shooter as CoD, or won't be as great a racer as GT or Forza, but there's a reason very few games do all the things GTA does while still having a highly detailed open world... Cause it costs about $200-300 million dollars, thousands of developers and about 5-7 years of development time.

 

You can probably count the amount of studios on one hand that have ever had that level of resources, time and freedom. Rockstar, Blizzard... uh, that's probably it lol.

 

Well you have Ubisoft and CPR too..... I haven´t played Fallout 76 by Bethesda but if they implemented vehicles they could compete with GTAO!?

[Jason]

5 minutes ago, Nerfgoth said:

 

Well you have Ubisoft and CPR too..... I haven´t played Fallout 76 by Bethesda but if they implemented vehicles they could compete with GTAO!?

 

Ubisoft have the devs but they don't get the freedom or time. CDPR have the freedom and time but don't have the developers - or the leadership, if you ask me. Fallout 76 is a completely different type of game, with or without vehicles. Bethesda studios are typically quite small compared to the giants such as Ubi and R* as well.

 

I genuinely don't think there's a single studio out there that could make their own version of GTAO that comes close to the scale and depth of GTA V / GTAO. After playing RDR2 you could pretty reasonably describe R* as the first and only "AAAA" studio these days IMO, they just, as of RDR2, have all the right parts to make these massive highly detailed worlds combined with a wide variety of mechanics.

 

I think if you're looking for something other than GTAO to play you should probably expand your horizons and try new stuff. I know there's a lot of doom and gloom about the future of the industry with publisher greed on the rise, NFT's, lootboxes/gambling, etc, but there's still a ton of great games out there and new ones coming out all the time.

 

For all the talk from people who love to babble on about consumers, corporations and all that jazz like they're some 400 IQ gigachad who knows the secrets of the universe, they sure do give the impression that they think the games industry is made up entirely of a handful of giant publishers, lol.

 

[Lonely-Martin]

2 hours ago, GTAJJ said:

 

I don't think so. With a solid portion of the community who are impressionable and could be likely to buy GTA+, also most likely follow in their favourite Youtuber's shoes. And a consensus seems to be that GTA+ is awful, at least this month.

 

Ahh, but how many of these youtubers will buy it (with either their own money or get it donated to them) to use it to show people what's in it even if to say how crap it might seem. The impressionable one's you refer to might just be like "well MrBoss has it and got that really fast car with it, so I'm getting it too"

 

I do agree with you that many that watch their favourite channels that are critical will follow suit, but can't help but feel there'll be some that will buy this and their followers will follow there too, and some have an awful lot of subscribers.

 

56 minutes ago, Jenkiiii said:

I don't know about you guys, but I'm now looking at my launch icon with a sinking feeling in my stomach, with added trepidation.

 

Normally, I jump straight in, possibly fueled by my gaming addiction, probably because the game is free and voluntary and it's my choice, but if.I have to pay a subscription it could drastically change that.

 

Sentiments like, I better load up GTA to get my money's worth, don't sit well with me. Perhaps it's psychological and just me? But it could have a negative effect that makes me play less instead of more. There's something very throwaway and superficial about the GTA+ concept. Shallow is an alternative word.

 

Surely it's not Rockstar's intention to get us to pay more and play less? That seems to go against the very core of GTA fandom, which will surely have negative repercussions if people feel squeezed and obligated?

 

Then again, I could be over thinking things?

 

I feel ya! I'm just gonna do my thing until it really impacts my game. Until then, I don't care about it too much. I recommend to just try and do that and pretty much ignore it when playing until the day comes (if it does) that what you normally enjoy is hampered by this.

 

If they release new DLC and non-subscribers can't get the regular access or other key aspects we're accustom to, then it'll have a negative impact and I'll cross that bridge then. But if this is just cosmetics and the odd early release of the odd car out of a DLC as a whole and the game doesn't drastically change how it usually does DLC, what other people spend on the game or how much R*/T2 make means little to me.

 

To me, that HSW Deveste Eight is basically just an extended dripfeed item that we're pretty used to seeing so we'll see from there with the following items/content.

 

Don't get me wrong, it's hard to not have that nagging feeling this could be the start of something bad (especially reading here, lol), but for me, since public only became a thing (and more so since RDRO and its restrictions arrived), I've always had it in mind that I'm nearing the end of my adventure in Los Santos here and R* online to an extent - That's why I can't help but praise GTA:O for not forcing the latest few DLC into public only.

 

For me it's just a case of wait and see with this, and the real proof in the pudding will be the next DLC, GTA VI or R*'s next story mode because by then the impact will be far better understood. But if RDR2's single player is any indicator, I'll be just fine on that front. Fingers crossed it really is just a glorified shark card thing and the game largely remains as is. 

[El Diablo 702]

I stated my opinion on this early on in this thread and while I still stand by that opinion the main thing that bothers me is as of now as a console player if R* is going to lock items and playable content behind this “+” bullsh*t that just gives me more of a reason to abandon this franchise as a whole.  As a day 1 360 player to rebuying this sh*tshow on x1 I have no faith that by buying the series x and buying this mess again things will improve,  game cost aside the average price  for a series x where I’m at is around $750, that’s a new table saw or better welder I can purchase to make me real $$$$.  Now I get with a new console comes better performance but from what I’ve seen it’s the same jump from 360 to x1, same game but looks a bit better.  And for a almost 9 year old game it’s hardly worth the investment and a subscription.  

[GTAJJ]

2 hours ago, Lonely-Martin said:

Ahh, but how many of these youtubers will buy it (with either their own money or get it donated to them) to use it to show people what's in it even if to say how crap it might seem. The impressionable one's you refer to might just be like "well MrBoss has it and got that really fast car with it, so I'm getting it too"

 

I do agree with you that many that watch their favourite channels that are critical will follow suit, but can't help but feel there'll be some that will buy this and their followers will follow there too, and some have an awful lot of subscribers.

 

I'm sure 99% of them will for the content, although the same message could be pushed - "I bought it so you don't have to". But like my earlier post, the effort versus cost is basically nil so any purchase is a huge return alone. If only Youtubers bought it, it would be more than enough alone for them to milk it; let alone the general public.

 

It does depend on how impressionable you are and if you blindly follow your Youtuber. If they say don't get it, they might not. But of course this may work on the flip side and let's say there was one single decent GTA+ month, or god forbid some OP item or event/business/mission/heist etc that was locked behind GTA+, those Youtubers can easily flip morals and standards and tell their fanbase to get this months if you want it now. And we all know that fanbase are the FOMO types.

 

It's not even the case of "oh this costs X to make, we need to assess our margins". It's "oh this was free, why not make it paywalled for no particular purpose other than taking money of unintelligent people".

[Rockford Hills]

People that pay for this let me know so I can laugh and point at you!

There are people that will pay, because that is why Rockstar came up with this!

I'll keep doing my 20 millon a week routine grinding the Cayo Perico Heist.

 

The question is though.

What if Rockstar starts offering content that only GTA+ subscribers can access like the Oppressor Mk3 or the Super Hydra?

What about if Rockstar actually stops producing lazy content and start producing really high quality content that only the GTA+ subscribers will have access too?

 

This is what bothers me.

Edited March 28, 2022 by Dying Starz
more ideas

[Shadowfennekin]

24 minutes ago, Dying Starz said:

People that pay for this let me know so I can laugh and point at you!

There are people that will pay, because that is why Rockstar came up with this!

I'll keep doing my 20 millon a week routine grinding the Cayo Perico Heist.

 

The question is though.

What if Rockstar starts offering content that only GTA+ subscribers can access like the Oppressor Mk3 or the Super Hydra?

What about if Rockstar actually stops producing lazy content and start producing really high quality content that only the GTA+ subscribers will have access too?

 

This is what bothers me.

Most games let you keep the sh*t you get from a subscription, you just no longer get the monthly 'benefits'(So basically no free stuff/money/etc)

Like the 'main draw' of Fallout 1st, the NCR Ranger armor. You can keep that forever regardless if you quit or not

 

I think they'll just time gate content, not permanently bar something behind it. Hopefully they just bar vehicles and PVP modes behind it and not PvE stuff, I can wait a new car out.

[Yellow Dog with Cone]

 

[Big Molio]

5 hours ago, Dying Starz said:

The question is though.

What if Rockstar starts offering content that only GTA+ subscribers can access like the Oppressor Mk3 or the Super Hydra?

What about if Rockstar actually stops producing lazy content and start producing really high quality content that only the GTA+ subscribers will have access too?

 

This is what bothers me.

 

That is exactly what will happen. GTA Online will become a two-tiered community of have's and have not's. You want the good stuff? You have to pay. 

 

I am just surprised it took them this long.

[KarimNTerr]

Perfectly balanced as all things should be

[DenjiChainsawman]

6 hours ago, Dying Starz said:

People that pay for this let me know so I can laugh and point at you!

There are people that will pay, because that is why Rockstar came up with this!

I'll keep doing my 20 millon a week routine grinding the Cayo Perico Heist.

 

The question is though.

What if Rockstar starts offering content that only GTA+ subscribers can access like the Oppressor Mk3 or the Super Hydra?

What about if Rockstar actually stops producing lazy content and start producing really high quality content that only the GTA+ subscribers will have access too?

 

This is what bothers me.

Same ^ I can see them mostly likely having exclusive DLC updates on there.

[deathdealer]

1 minute ago, DenjiChainsawman said:

Same ^ I can see them mostly likely having exclusive DLC updates on there.

 

 

It's an absolute at this point, R* has no shame.

[Tez2]

14 hours ago, Yellow Dog with Cone said:

Really man, an "if you don't like it, go make your own" argument? If we all could just sprung up a community that easy, most people would have done it already, that's a total fallacy.

 

People aren't asking for the mods here to go "f*ck Rockstar Games", what people are asking here on this forum is for the mods, who are the ones with actual influence and ties to R*, to actually represent the community they're moderating for instead of being either wishy-washy, complacent or outright condescending in their responses about why they willingly choose not to do so.

 

This is the E&E debacle all over again and you'll think that the mods here would have caught the hint already but judging by the responses of some of them (not all of them, thankfully!) it seems that's not the case sadly.

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Also funny how you mention Reddit, seeing how the r/gtaonline mods are actual trolls who took over that subreddit to aggressively push down an anti-criticism and pro-griefer agenda, at least this forum is way better in that regard (and I hope it stays that way).

 

The staff already stated in prior pages GTANet isn't as influential as the tons of people criticizing this decision. The "Ties with Rockstar" part is basically Rockstar giving news sites and recognized fan forums a special line or email to their PR department. You know the department that comes up with generic non-answers? And if GTANet approached them with the over-negative tone, Rockstar can just ignore them. And listen, you could go on about how the staff members suck because they are choosing willingly not to do that because they want to keep close ties with Rockstar. But I'm yet to see a fan forum that goes all-negative on Rockstar asses, warrants an actual response from them and not end up in a blacklist. Some staff members already criticized this decision and an opinion piece is in the making, but won't be all-negative. I don't have a problem with that. If you do have a problem with the "some of them", I don't know what to tell you other than the "go make your own" argument.

 

Rockstar issued out an apology regarding the Trilogy DE state despite selling 10 million copies and GTANet was definitely not influential much because there were already similar complaints regarding the staff.

 

Regarding the spoiler part, I don't know about you, but I see the "make your own" argument as a solution.

[DODI3OG]

Sounds like it's optional.
 

Quote

Every month, GTA+ will deliver a new set of exclusive rewards for Members to claim. Just go to Legendary Motorsport, Hao’s Special Works, Maze Bank Foreclosures, DockTease, and other stores found in the GTA Online web browser to obtain and enjoy each period’s Member benefits before they expire — and all GTA+ benefits are provided in addition to our regular GTA Online events, which will continue as normal for all players.

 

I'm not getting it because I already have millions on my Character and all businesses and properties except those from The Contract. But, I can see its utility for new players, especially those who do not have the time to grind for the Businesses (AKA those who have a life). Took me weeks to get the good businesses in game and it'll probably take others months esp. if they go to work/school on weekdays.

However, I can see them releasing free seasonal updates in tandem with GTA+ which may seem like the Battle Pass skips in other games.