After years of delays, Grand Theft Auto 6 finally has a release date. However, its exclusively digital rollout and the decision to place an extended first look behind Netflix’s subscription paywall have already sparked backlash. Now, it appears that Rockstar could ask players to pay a monthly subscription fee on top of the game’s purchase price.
Adam Sessler via Twitch claims that Grand Theft Auto 6 will have some sort of monthly subscription that is SEPARATE from GTA+ he says he will “hide under his desk” when this inevitably gets announced
What do you think? pic.twitter.com/8A1UCWY7jU
— Endymion (@EndymionYT) August 20, 2026
Former G4 and Xplay host Adam Sessler discussed the rumored service during a recent episode of his Twitch podcast, The Joy of Sess. His guest, Slightly Old Gaming, claimed to have heard that Rockstar Games plans to introduce a subscription specifically for GTA 6.
Significantly, the alleged service would reportedly be separate from GTA+, Rockstar’s existing subscription program.
Grand Theft Auto VI – Rockstar Games
Sessler indicated that he had heard similar information but declined to reveal everything he knew.
“If, for some of the stuff I’ve heard that I’m not going to talk about, there is a reason for that monthly subscription,” Sessler said. “I’m more interested to see how they introduce an idea like that, if that is the case.”
He also predicted a furious response from players.
“I’m going to hide under my desk when something like that gets announced,” Sessler added.
Rockstar Has Not Confirmed the Rumored Service
Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive have not announced a separate GTA 6 subscription. However, the game is currently available in two editions at different price points: the Standard Edition costs $69.99, while the Ultimate Edition costs $99.99. Players who choose the cheaper version will have fewer options for customizing their characters, vehicles, weapons, and clothing. An additional mission will also reportedly be available exclusively to those who pre-order the Ultimate Edition.
Sessler offered no details about the potential subscription’s cost, benefits, or whether it would be required to access particular features.
The claim should therefore be treated as an unconfirmed rumor. However, such a service would not represent Rockstar’s first attempt to generate recurring subscription revenue from the franchise.
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games
GTA+ currently provides members with monthly in-game currency, exclusive vehicles, discounts, additional garage space, and access to a rotating library of games. Rockstar launched the service for GTA Online in March 2022 at $5.99 per month. The company increased the US price to $7.99 per month in April 2024.
Rockstar is already using GTA 6 to promote the existing program. Players who purchase the game before November 20 can claim one free month of GTA+. According to PlayStation, the complimentary month will become a paid subscription unless the customer cancels before the next billing date.
Players Could Face Another Monthly Charge
A separate service could give Rockstar another way to monetize the enormous audience expected to purchase GTA 6. It might offer cosmetic items, vehicles, weapons, early access to new content, or other recurring benefits. More controversially, Rockstar could place substantial gameplay features behind the subscription.
That distinction will likely determine how players respond. An optional membership offering modest bonuses may be accepted as an extension of GTA+. A subscription required to access major portions of an already full-priced game would invite considerably greater opposition.
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games
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Take-Two has every financial incentive to transform GTA 6 into a long-term source of recurring revenue. Some estimates suggest that the long-awaited title cost between $1.5 billion and $2 billion to produce. Meanwhile, GTA Online has demonstrated that a single release can continue generating revenue for more than a decade through updates and microtransactions.
For now, however, the proposed subscription remains only a rumor. Until Rockstar makes an announcement, players will not know whether Sessler has revealed an unpopular new feature—or merely given them one more reason to worry about the future of gaming.
Would you pay for a GTA VI subscription? Sound off and let us know!
