GTA Online Fans Furious As 180+ Cars Are Removed, Some Now Paywalled
It’s an exciting time for Grand Theft Auto Online fans! Today, June 13, is update day. And while the new free expansion, San Andreas Mercenaries, adds new missions, other assorted content, and much-needed quality-of-life changes, it also removes over 180 cars and motorcycles from in-game stores. This massive removal of content has not gone over well with fans, especially as several of the cut cars have been placed behind a GTA+ paywall.
Since launching in October 2013, GTA Online has continued to be updated, expanded, and ported to more consoles—like PS4 and PS5—as players keep returning to the online open-world crime simulator. And the latest update, San Andreas Mercenaries, is yet another big injection of new content and smart changes. For example, no more mashing the X button to sprint! It turns out, however, that this update has likely removed more stuff than it added. Fans discovered that at least 189 vehicles have been removed from in-game stores, making them nearly impossible to purchase and use if you don’t already happen to have them unlocked.
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Rockstar removed 189 cars from GTA Online
In a June 8 pre-update news post on the company’s official website, Rockstar technically did tell players it would be removing some cars. However, that warning was vague and didn’t specify how many cars would be removed, or which specific ones. Many assumed it might be a dozen or so really old clunkers that nobody cares about in 2023. That wasn’t the case.
After the update went live on June 13, players began cataloging all the cars that had been removed from in-game stores and websites. After crunching the numbers, the list sits at 189 vehicles, some of which don’t seem like “lesser-used” vehicles based on player reactions to the long list of cut cars.
Rockstar explained on Tuesday that it removed these “lesser-used” vehicles from in-game shops to “streamline the shopping experience.” It also promised that these vehicles will “occasionally be made available in other ways” citing the prize wheel at the in-game casino as one option.
Rockstar’s placing certainly previously free cars behind new GTA+ paywall
Making matters worse is that Rockstar’s recently announced “Vinewood Car Club,” a new perk for paying GTA+ subscribers, features some of these now-removed cars. Specifically, the RE-7B and Stirling GT can now only be bought by GTA+ subscribers. This essentially means these vehicles that were once free to earn have been placed behind a $6-a-month paywall. In addition, GTA+ is currently only available for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players and not PC or legacy console GTA Online players.
Kotaku has contacted Rockstar about the removed cars.
Even if only a few cut cars get stashed behind a GTA+ subscription fee, it’s still extremely frustrating to see so many vehicles effectively get deleted from GTA Online.
Rockstar Games
Yes, if you own one of these cars you can still drive it around and enjoy it. But for new players or folks who didn’t own everything—that is to say, most players—this mass removal sucks. These cut cars, once easily purchasable via in-game websites using free-to-earn currency, are now only returning “occasionally” at Rockstar’s discretion. This likely means that, sadly, many players will never get a chance to own and operate most of these 180+ automobiles, especially players who aren’t GTA+ subscribers.
For players looking to buy some of these cars, your best bet now is to use the Los Santos Car Meet and try to buy them from other players who are selling them. But that’s not nearly as easy as it once was, and likely won’t be good enough for players upset with Rockstar’s big change.
Which cars did Rockstar remove from GTA Online?
Here’s the full list of cars and motorcycles Rockstar has removed from GTA Online:
Cars/Trucks
Peyote Gasser
Zion Classic
Nebula Turbo
Issi Sport
Vamos
Futo
Ruiner
Romero
Prairie
Michelli GT
Fagaloa
Hermes
Retinue
Tornado Rat-Rod
Massacro Racecar
Jester Racecar
Pigalle
Blade
Picador
F620
Fusilade
Penumbra
Sentinel
Rat-Loader
Schwartzer
Zion Cabrio
Zion
Gauntlet
Vigero
Issi
Seminole Frontier
Dynasty
Tulip
BeeJay XL
FQ2
Serrano
Habanero
Cheburek
Streiter
Franken Stange
Jackal
Oracle Xs
Schafter
Surge
Warrener
Regina
Buffalo
Buffalo S
Tailgater
Asea
Granger
Rancher XL
Ingot
Intruder
Minivan
Premier
Radius
Stanier
Stratum
Washington
Asterope
Fugitive
Dilettante
Hellion
Riata
Seminole
Kalahari
Rebel (Clean)
Sanking SWB
Bodhi
Dune Buggy
Rebel
Injection
Bison
Landstalker XL
Patriot
Contender
Landstalker
Gresley
Baller
Cavalcade 2nd Gen
Cavalcade
Rocoto
Felon GT
Felon
Oracle
Tigon
Imorgon
Zorruso
Locust
Neo
Paragon R
S80RR
Deviant
Stafford
Swinger
Comet SR
Hustler
190Z
GT500
Viseris
Savestra
SC1
Cyclone
Rapid GT Classic
XA-21
Torero
Ruston
GP1
Raptor
Lynx
ETR1
Tyrus
RE-7B
Seven-70
811
Verlierer
Brawler
Coquette Black Fin
Stirling GT
Furore GT
Jester
Alpha
Z-Type
Stinger GT
Stinger
JB700
Cheetah
Entity XF
Cognoscenti Cabrio
Coquette
Feltzer
Infernus
9F Cabrio
9F
Comet
Vacca
Bullet
Carbonizzare
Voltic
Rapid GT Cabrio
Rapid GT
Surrano
Stafford
Revolter
Raiden
XLS (both versions)
Roosevelt Valor
Roosevelt
Cognoscenti 55 (both versions)
Cognoscenti (both versions)
Baller LE (both versions)
Schafter LWB (both versions)
Exemplar
Super Diamond
Squaddie
Mesa
Liberator
Comet
Motorcycles/scooters/ATVs:
Thrust
Wolfsbane
Esskey
Avarus
Zombie Bobber
Daemon (Bikers variant)
Rat-Bike
Bagger
Faggio Mod
Fagio Sport
Cliffhanger
Enduro
Nemesis
Hakuchou
Innovation
Sovereign
Hot Rod Blazer
Bati 801RR
Ruffian
Vader
Blazer
PCJ 600
Sanchez (both versions)
Faggio
Akuma
Double-T
Hexer
Lifeguard
Verus
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