Rockstar Games has been at the forefront of action-adventure video games for years, continually pushing the envelope with Grand Theft Auto. The latest move sees Rockstar introducing a lucrative offer for GTA+ subscribers: additional free games. After giving away the GTA Remaster trilogy for free, two more have been added that are just as iconic amongst fans – Liberty City Stories and Chinatown Wars. With this strategic play, the esteemed game publisher could be shaping the future of game accessibility and monetization.
Both Liberty City Stories and Chinatown Wars were significant releases in their own right. Released in 2005, Liberty City Stories was initially launched on PlayStation Portable, giving players a chance to revisit the dark and gritty world of the New York-inspired Liberty City on the go. Fast forward to 2009, and Rockstar brought forward Chinatown Wars, initially a Nintendo DS exclusive, offering a unique take on the GTA experience, infusing it with elements that resonated with handheld gamers.
Now, these classic titles are available on mobile devices – both iOS and Android. Interested players can embark on a 30-minute free trial, after which they have the option to purchase the full game. However, there’s a catch – and it’s a golden one for GTA+ subscribers. These members have the privilege of unlocking the entire game by simply logging in using a Rockstar Games Social Club account, provided it’s linked to their console and has an active GTA+ Membership. This lets them bypass the usual payment procedure, effectively playing the game without any extra charge.
This move is all the more significant when we consider the pricing. GTA+ comes at a modest fee of $5.99 a month. Thus, it becomes an affordable gateway not only to these two games but also to other exclusive perks. Until November 8, the members can capitalize on exclusive GTA Online rewards such as the new Albany Brigham at The Vinewood Car Club and Double Rewards in Halloween Deathmatches. As a cherry on top, they receive a bonus of $500,000 cash credited to their in-game Maze Bank account. With all these benefits stacked together, it is clear that a mere month’s subscription can offer tremendous value, especially for those keen to delve into Liberty City Stories and Chinatown Wars.
Rockstar isn’t the first publisher to venture into this territory. Ubisoft and EA each have publisher-initiated offerings. So far, the reception is mixed. While some view it as a strategic evolution, others find it an unusual if greedy approach. The only difference here is Rockstar’s prominence and the sheer quality of games they offer. Not to mention, it’s cheap. Its entry into this space could potentially reshape the perception and viability of such models.
Of course, if you look closely, it becomes clear that Rockstar’s initiative with GTA+ goes beyond mere marketing. It isn’t impossible that Rockstar is using this as a test environment to gauge the viability and success of such models in future GTA releases.
Who knows? Maybe if Rockstar sees this bear fruit, it might have a better idea how much to ask Netflix to put a GTA game on its video game library.
Ultimately, the fact remains that both Chinatown Wars and Liberty City Stories have held their own in the vast award-winning GTA universe. Players have lauded Chinatown Wars for its distinct gameplay, while Liberty City Stories, despite being what can only be described as derivative of Grand Theft Auto 3, added new features like bikes and brought subtle changes that enhanced the gaming experience.
While it remains to be seen how these changes impact the broader industry, for now, GTA+ subscribers have a chance to revisit two iconic GTA titles without any additional costs.
