Summary

  • Xbox Game Pass users might lose access to Grand Theft Auto 5 later this month, as messages are being sent out notifying them of its possible departure.
  • The game has had a history of coming and going from Xbox Game Pass, so its potential removal is not unexpected.
  • While this news may disappoint new fans who have been enjoying the game through Xbox Game Pass, they have the option to purchase it at a discount to continue playing.

Xbox Game Pass might be losing Grand Theft Auto 5 later this month, as some Xbox users are receiving messages stating as much. This would fit with Grand Theft Auto 5's history on Xbox Game Pass, seeing that the game has come and gone numerous times throughout the service's history.

Following the reveal of Grand Theft Auto 6, GTA hype is at an all-time high. Grand Theft Auto 5 remains highly popular on all supported platforms. While Xbox Game Pass subscribers have gotten to enjoy Grand Theft Auto 5 at no extra cost since July 5, 2023, this may be ending soon.

Reddit user C0d24 reported that they received a message from Xbox stating that Grand Theft Auto 5 would leave Xbox Game Pass on December 31. They are an Italian Xbox user, and other Italians in the comments reported receiving the same message, as did a Turkish user. It looks like American users haven't received this news yet, at the time of writing. The message also explains that Xbox Game Pass subscribers can purchase Grand Theft Auto 5 at a 20% discount to continue playing after December 31.

The game has seen many re-releases since its 2013 debut, like Grand Theft Auto 5's PS5 and Xbox Series X ports, so many fans already own at least one copy. However, Grand Theft Auto's pull is massive and seemingly undying, so it's likely that new fans continue to pour into Grand Theft Auto 5 every month. While this news from Xbox will probably come as a disappointment to new fans who have leveraged Xbox Game Pass' offering since July, they can be relieved to know that at least Grand Theft Auto 5 can be purchased at a discount while it's still on Game Pass.

Thanks to the massive amount of hype surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6, Rockstar might be looking to maximize its profits by bringing Grand Theft Auto 5 back to its regular price on Xbox. However, this is just speculation, and its departure from Xbox Game Pass could be due to a plethora of reasons, like the deal simply expiring. Thankfully, Xbox Game Pass subscribers have plenty of other solid options to enjoy.

Deciding which titles are the best games on Xbox Game Pass is a tough debate, thanks to the service's impressive offering of RPGs, shooters, simulators, and much more. So while Grand Theft Auto 5's pending departure is disappointing, fans should still have plenty to play on the service.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Grand Theft Auto 5 Tag Page Cover Art
9 /10

Grand Theft Auto 5
Display card tags widget
Open-World
Action
Display card system widget
Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget
Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 92%
Display card main info widget
Released
September 17, 2013
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Developer(s)
Rockstar North
Publisher(s)
Rockstar Games
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto 5 showing main characters Michael, Trevor, and Franklin
5 Images
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto 5 showing main characters Michael, Trevor, and Franklin
Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA 5 Are Still Selling Very Well
A helicopter flying over the highways and skyscrapers at sunset in Los Santos in GTA 5-1
Grand Theft Auto 6 Los Santos Skyline
Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto 5
Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

When a young street hustler, a retired bank robber and a terrifying psychopath find themselves entangled with some of the most frightening and deranged elements of the criminal underworld, the U.S. Government and the entertainment industry, they must pull off a series of dangerous heists to survive in a ruthless city in which they can trust nobody, least of all each other.

Grand Theft Auto V for PC offers players the option to explore the award-winning world of Los Santos and Blaine County in resolutions of up to 4k and beyond, as well as the chance to experience the game running at 60 frames per second.

The game offers players a huge range of PC-specific customization options, including over 25 separate configurable settings for texture quality, shaders, tessellation, anti-aliasing and more, as well as support and extensive customization for mouse and keyboard controls. Additional options include a population density slider to control car and pedestrian traffic, as well as dual and triple monitor support, 3D compatibility, and plug-and-play controller support.

Franchise
Grand Theft Auto
Genre(s)
Open-World, Action