GTA 5 is set to be removed from the PlayStation Plus game catalogue on November 17, just two days before GTA 6 launches, according to a notice spotted on the PlayStation Store and shared via Reddit.
The notice, which encourages players to ‘take a trip to Los Santos’ while waiting for GTA 6, also includes a prompt to pre-order the upcoming sequel. GTA 5 is currently available to subscribers of the Extra or Premium tiers of PlayStation Plus.
Removal timing and pre-order push
The removal comes as Rockstar and publisher Take-Two Interactive look to encourage players to choose the new entry over the 2013 predecessor. The game will still be available to purchase separately, but the timing is notable given that a month of PlayStation Plus Extra costs £11.99 compared to the £39.99 digital purchase price of GTA 5.
This is not the first time GTA 5 has left a subscription service. It previously left Xbox Game Pass in April, and has been removed from the service multiple times before. It remains possible that GTA 5 could return to the PlayStation Plus catalogue at a later date.
Context and other removals
While the Reddit post suggests this is a first, games have regularly been removed from the PlayStation Plus catalogue. Sony operates a ‘Last chance to play’ section within the PlayStation Plus tab, which highlights games leaving as part of the monthly update. This month’s removals include Silent Hill 2, Yakuza: Like A Dragon, and Jurassic World Evolution 2, all set to leave on October 20.
GTA 5 is the best-selling traditional video game ever, meaning most players will already own or have played it. Sony is expected to make an official statement about the removal in November.
