Grand Theft Auto Online Servers Are Shutting Down
Grand Theft Auto Online is going away for certain players.
This article is more than 2 years old
It’s a sad day for Xbox 360 and PS3-owning fans of Grand Theft Auto Online, as Rockstar Games’ newest statement reveals server shutdowns for antique platforms after being available for eight years. So, if you’re still running your GTA Online from one of these consoles, consider upgrading your hardware because the game’s servers are shutting down.
The shutdown will be a multi-stage process that begins on September 16th this year, whit the removal of Shark Cards (microtransactions) from sale on affected platforms, as reported by We Got This Covered. Rockstar Games’ official statement clarifies the shutdown process and what exactly the gamers can expect when Grand Theft Auto Online shuts down on the affected platforms. According to their report, the clock strikes zero on December 16th, including the website stat tracking via Rockstar Games Social Club. To reiterate, the shutdown will only affect seventh-generation consoles, the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Luckily, the single-player campaign, which requires no internet connection whatsoever, will remain functional on the affected platforms. This way, any physical copies of the game won’t be rendered useless but entertaining for a while, at least until the next GTA title arrives. Regardless, this is a heavy blow to Xbox 360 and PS3 fans of Grand Theft Auto Online. Rockstar Games confirmed that all progress made on the affected platforms isn’t transferrable because data mitigation between the platforms simply isn’t possible. A heavy blow to the ribs, for sure, especially for experienced and self-made GTA Online players who invested countless hours, and perhaps even money, into their gaming experience.
This is made worse because any in-game wealth acquisition achieved through microtransactions will also cease to exist since it also isn’t transferrable or refundable. Sad news, indeed, but ultimately, not surprising. Grand Theft Auto V, and its online component, the Grand Theft Auto Online, is one of the longest spanning titles in recent gaming history – it even released on the affected platforms, which means it now spans over three generations of hardware. Yes, the game was initially released in 2013 for Xbox 360 and PS3, only to be re-released in 2014 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Since the game’s popularity warranted a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S re-release, scheduled for November 2021, and the game’s ongoing support for the PS4 and Xbox One systems, it makes sense for Rockstar Games to pull the plug on PS3 and Xbox 360 online support. The obsolescence of seventh-generation hardware, at least when it pertains to Grand Theft Auto Online, should put all fans on alert. It’s only a matter of time when the shutdowns occur on current platforms. And what happens if Grand Theft Auto 6 launches with an Online component of its own?
The answers to these questions remain a mystery, at least for the foreseeable future, as the PS4 and Xbox One support continues and Grand Theft Auto Online shifts towards the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S releases. We want to express our sympathies to fans affected by the shutdowns and encourage them to seek new heights on upgraded systems.
