Struggling to find PS5 stock but hoping to snag a free copy of GTA Online and take advantage of the introductory offer for GTA 5? Sorry, you can’t. As has been pointed out by a number of readers, you’ll need to physically own a PlayStation 5 console to download your free copy of GTA Online and purchase the single player campaign for the introductory offer of £8.75/$9.99.
You can’t find the client on the web-based PS Store or the PlayStation App, making these offers exclusive to owners of the new-gen console itself. We imagine this was the deal that Sony struck with Rockstar all along, but it’s not a great look considering how scarce stock of the system is. Xbox owners can buy the new-gen GTA 5 outside of the Xbox Series X|S ecosystem, but it’s worth stressing they’re not getting quite the same deal.
Obviously, PS Plus subscribers are able to claim any free PS5 games from the web store every month, but this is a different kind of offer as while you’ll need an active subscription to play GTA Online, it’s not technically part of the monthly lineup. Of course, you’ve got until 14th June to find a PS5 and take advantage of the deal, so you still have a little bit of time.
Still, this isn’t great under the circumstances: PS5s are so hard to find that we can completely understand players purchasing as much content as possible, ready for when they’re able to actually find a system in the wild. So it does feel a little bit stingy from Sony and Rockstar, and while we’re sure the arrangement was made prior to the semiconductor shortage, a bit more awareness wouldn’t go amiss here.
Comments 22
That sucks for the people that still care about this overhyped Ps3 game. When is Gta IV finally gonna get some love. Rockst* being greedy is nothing new. I'll wait for the 6th installment however many years that will take.
The console has been out for over a year now—anyone that truly wanted one could have gotten one by now. All you have to do it follow a couple of stock update Twitter feeds to get a head’s up, then show up when they go live. I did that a year ago and got one within a week and a half.
That said it’s been a ROUGH period for many people financially, so for anyone holding off for financial reasons who plans on getting a PS5 when things settle, things like this suck. People shouldn’t be punished because they’re waiting until it makes financial sense to plonk down half a grand on a console that doesn’t have a ton of exclusives that can’t be easily played in a PS4 Pro.
@glassmusic I know quite a few people who are still struggling to find a PS5. Not everyone can just "show up when they go live," as you put it. Some of us lead pretty hectic lives — raising kids, working full-time and then some, studying, being a jiggalo, etc... and don't have the time or energy to hunt down a piece of hardware.
I just don’t understand why Sony is shooting itself in the foot so much. They don’t realize that every little anti-consumer thing they do adds up.
Then there's those of us with a PS5 that have no interest.
If you have a friend with a ps5 then maybe sign in on theirs to claim your discount ready for later, anti consumer nonsense
@glassmusic you are absolutely, completely and utterly wrong, what utter nonsense, claiming they are freely available 😂 bye
Thanks for bringing this issue to light. I haven't seen it reported anywhere else. I can understand the free GTA Online offer being reserved for PS5 owners, but the discounted campaign promotion should be available to all.
How is it fair that a PS5 owner who may have never purchased the game before is more worthy of the discount than someone who already purchased a version of the game, but doesn't have a PS5 yet?
Why do I need to sign in on a friend's PS5 to get the discounted price?
I'll gladly pay $10 for the improved visuals and performance, but I'm not buying the game again for full price. They could at least do like they did with the Uncharted collection and offer the discount to owners of the PS4 version.
@BartoxTharglod you can't see the PS5 version of the game on the app because it's only available to purchase on the ps5 console
I won't be renewing my subscription for ps plus because of this bs , this is a perk for ps plus members it shouldn't matter if I own their latest console yet or not.
@BartoxTharglod Maybe if you've bought it it will show up on the app but I know it's not showing for me atleast
Meh, who cares about this cesspit!
Sad move to make to be honest for those who haven't got a ps5 yet ,I think chances are it's more of rockstar wanted it this way but saying that Sony went with it , Xbox is more expensive than the Sony offering but at least you can buy now before you get a series x/s and play later instead of having to wait till in a few months time when the prices go up to full on this game
Its kinda a iffy move especially they got the extra coverage whilst the plus games were announced. (Not that im interested)
For something thats largely the same for the 3rd gen in a row, you would think anyone thats had it would probably had their fill by now.
They would probably make more by making it f2p and relying on making the money via micro transactions........f2p would potentially be a fresh set of customers fir them to bleed (aka customer who would never buy a GTA but will be willing to give a f2p title a shot)
Yep this was mentioned by some in the comments in an article last week.
Is this Sony not wanting a glut of extra sales? As i assume that they are financing this somehow as GTA online is part of Plus for those with a PS5.
I guess we will never know,
@huyi
millions of people since this will likely be the most sold game of March on PS5
Saw a reply over on EG,suggesting XB owners can't access playing the single player game without also buying GTAO,though not sure if its the case or not.🤔
After firing up vanilla GTA V remastered disc,(& blocking the latest update from my old 68Gb odd install having zero interest in GTAO),it came up as ps4 GTA V Premium edition on my web browser psn library...there was a ps5 picture tile,but says its unavailable...& if you're not logged in,you can't even see that much!😕
To tie in downloading GTAO onto PS5 to then find the discounted campaign mode purchase option is quite a sneaky tactic to avoid the majority of its potential upgrade audience! Much like when they pushed out the minimal GTA "Definitive edition" trailer/pictures minus gameplay or music tracks, it just smacked of arrogance from all involved.
Sadly,seems to have largely gone under the radar unlike some past controversies,so they'll continue to get away with these behaviours so long as they're allowed to! For all the "We want GTA VI" crowd expecting a GTA V/RDR 2 length story mode will be disappointed....its very clear where Take-two & Rockstar's priorities are!
If you have this on pc why buy this half hearted edition? You already have mods that are way better than what rockstar is offering.
@glassmusic no not everyone that wants one has gotten it. Many of us have jobs or kids or other responsibities and cant be online waiting for drops that are sold out in 5 seconds.
@glassmusic People think everyone has 900$ just lying around
Uhmm... No thanks...
Makes me glad I bought my PS5 when I did, but I do hope everyone else is able to get their hands on a PS5 before June.
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