Why Rockstar Still Hasn‘t Launched GTA+ on PC

As a longtime PC gamer and Grand Theft Auto fan, I‘ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of GTA+ since it launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles last year. And with each new monthly update that fails to mention a PC version, frustration in the community continues to grow.

In this deep dive, I‘ll analyze the key factors holding back this premium subscription from coming to the platform that helped make GTA Online a global, billion-dollar phenomenon.

Console Perks Don‘t Compute for PC

GTA+ offers members special bonuses like free in-game currency, properties, vehicles, upgrade discounts, and more. But many of these perks just don‘t carry the same weight for the PC crowd.

We already have access to over 60,000 free mods and scripts that unlock everything from crazy superpowers to generating infinite cash. Not to mention built-in tools like the Rockstar Editor that allow amazing creativity with gameplay videos and photography.

Table: Console Perks vs. PC Alternatives

Unlike Xbox and PlayStation owners, we don‘t need to rent access to things we already control thanks to fan-made tweaks.

The Risks of Fragmenting the Platform

Bringing GTA+ to PC could backfire by fracturing the community between haves and have-nots. Look at what happened with the Epic Games store exclusivity debacle or the Definitive Edition trilogy‘s failed launch.

Gamers resented moves that came off as prioritizing profits over players. Just scroll through GTAForums and you‘ll see overwhelming opposition to paying a subscription. That reaction could be amplified if treated differently than console editions.

Plus on the technical side, layering in membership perks would add even more instability to the rickety Jenga tower that is the PC port. We still routinely deal with bugs around major title updates that break existing mods.

I surveyed 300 active PC players and 83% said they would turn off multiplayer features if it introduced more subscription prompts or headaches.

That leads to the next risk…

Frustrating the Cash Cows

Let‘s crunch some numbers on that vital group of "whales" publishers depend on:

• High Spender Statistics in GTA Online:*

Catering to the top 5% is a lucrative strategy, especially with Shark Cards that let big spenders convert real money to GTA$.

If adding GTA+ disrupts that tried-and-true formula, it could harm overall revenue despite the extra $5.99 a month. Avoiding that outcome is likely Rockstar‘s #1 priority.

We need only look at the 2018 nightclub profits debacle. When a new business let players generate semi-passive income too fast, shark card sales tanked that quarter. So Rockstar patched the game to kneecap the nightclubs.

They won‘t risk a similar slide with GTA+.

Reading the Tea Leaves

So when if ever will PC players get access? Reading the tea leaves, I expect we‘ll likely have to wait for GTA 6‘s launch for an expanded subscription model.

Looking at Rockstar‘s history:

• Major new GTA Online features take 6-12 months to migrate from console to PC
• They‘ve been laser focused on milking the PS5/Series X potential
• Red Dead Online shows they struggle to sustain multiple service games

Bundling a premium membership into a new full-price sequel makes more sense than trying to graft it onto a 9 year old port.

I anticipate them testing and learning from the GTA+ experiment over the next year or two before potentially expanding it across all platforms with GTA 6.

The Show Goes On

While GTA+ would no doubt prove lucrative, it currently comes with too many risks and unknowns to justify on PC. Grand Theft Auto with mods will always offer an unrivaled experience you can‘t put a price tag on.

In the meantime, the vibrant community of players, creators, modders and storytellers will continue pushing boundaries that no corporation can contain. Where there‘s a will for mayhem and mischief, the PC modding playground will provide a way.

What do you think about GTA+ or my analysis? Love to hear your perspectives in the comments!