GTA Online shutting down for Xbox 360 and PS3

GTA Online
(Image credit: Rockstar)

If you're playing GTA Online on PS3 or Xbox 360, your online crime spree is ending this December. 

Rockstar announced today, June 16, that the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of GTA Online will shut down on December 16, 2021. That includes website stat tracking via the Rockstar Games Social Club and the Shark Cash Cards for GTA Online, the latter of which will no longer be sold after September 15. 

These changes are strictly for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the, as website stat tracking and Shark Cash Card sales will continue for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. The changes will also not affect "access to, or progress within, the Grand Theft Auto 5 Story Mode," according to the Rockstar Newswire post

Rockstar is ceasing support for the now two generations old consoles to help prepare for the upcoming launch of "expanded and enhanced" versions of GTA 5 and GTA Online for PS5 and Xbox Series X. We've little to no details on what the updated version of the games will actually include, but expect updated graphics and load times, for sure, and maybe some new GTA Online content. Rumors are also swirling that there will be some single-player DLC as well as the now-expected GTA Online updates. 

Rockstar may also be shifting focus away from older consoles so that it can designate dev support for the long-awaited GTA 6, which is rumored to be launching in 2023. According to an unverified GTA 6 leaker, the game may be set in Miami in the 1970s and feature a chaptered story similar to Red Dead Redemption 2. Whatever GTA 6 brings us, it makes sense that Rockstar may be trying to focus its efforts on the highly anticipated sequel.

GTA Online isn't the only game shutting down on the older generation consoles. Site stat tracking, online multiplayer, and leaderboards for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Max Payne 3 will cease as of September 16, as will website stat tracking for PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of LA Noire.

Grab one of these Prime Day PS5 deals if you want to continue your crime spree.

How to make money fast in GTA Online | GTA Online Solomon Movie Prop | GTA Online new cars | GTA Online fastest cars | GTA Online Lucky Wheel glitch | GTA Online fastest bikes | GTA Online tips | GTA Online Playing Cards | GTA Online Peyote Plants | GTA Online Serial Killer | How to level up fast in GTA Online | GTA Online Action Figures | GTA Online best paying missions | GTA Online Shark Card

Alyssa Mercante

Alyssa Mercante is an editor and features writer at GamesRadar based out of Brooklyn, NY. Prior to entering the industry, she got her Masters's degree in Modern and Contemporary Literature at Newcastle University with a dissertation focusing on contemporary indie games. She spends most of her time playing competitive shooters and in-depth RPGs and was recently on a PAX Panel about the best bars in video games. In her spare time Alyssa rescues cats, practices her Italian, and plays soccer.

Read more
Players in GTA Online running businesses and playing missions
It sounds like GTA Online could have a life after GTA 6 – but after 400 hours in Los Santos, I'm ready to say goodbye
GTA Online The Criminal Enterprises
GTA Online fans find a "loophole" to enable crossplay across PC and PS4, and apparently all you need is a jailbroken console, a dev copy of GTA 5, and access to a private server
GTA 5
GTA 5 is giving PC players a free upgrade that brings it up to par with the console versions and adds some PC-exclusive features
Lester sitting at a computer in some artwork for GTA Online
Some GTA 5 players can't bring their characters to the new PC upgrade, and the open-world game's mixed Steam reviews are hammering FPS caps and a lack of text chat
Players in GTA Online running businesses and playing missions
GTA publisher is suing a GTA Online website that lets you buy hacked accounts, which "risks upending the GTA 5 player experience"
A screenshot of protagonist Lucia from GTA 6
The years-long GTA 6 debate over what happens to GTA Online has been addressed by Take-Two's CEO: "We've shown a willingness to support legacy titles when a community wants to be engaged with them"
Latest in Adventure
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Pokemon Legends: Z-A will allegedly introduce 27 new Mega Evolutions, leakers claim, and we can only hope Flygon gets its chance this time
Minecraft Vibrant Visuals
16 years after Minecraft first released it's getting a modern visual upgrade with a retro lighting trick that Mojang hasn't seen "in any other game"
Minecraft movie image of Jack Black as steve
Don't expect Minecraft to go free-to-play anytime soon, as Mojang says "It doesn't really work with the way we built it"
Putting cigarettes in fish mouths in Thank Goodness You're Here
Thank Goodness You're Here's developer says it was trying to design a game normally before realizing "we're s**t at video game design"
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shiny Cards
How to get Shiny Pokemon in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's director appears to be a Xenoblade Chronicles fan, and I'm now feeling very validated about a tiny detail I spotted in the upcoming RPG's gameplay trailer
Latest in News
Muse
Daredevil: Born Again midseason trailer teases Matt Murdock’s violent fight with Muse, including a gory scene straight from the comics
Batman looking over the city during Batman: Arkham City, one of the best PS3 games.
The PS2 Batman Begins game was considered such a "disaster" that Christopher Nolan turned down a Dark Knight-inspired game
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe assassinating target with Tanto skill
Assassin's Creed Shadows' first title update is a hotfix with three lines of patch notes and a download size up to 9GB
a victory screen showing someone in a day of the dead mask and another who is an old man looking sad
GeoGuessr is coming to Steam and you can go head-to-head to prove you're the best geographer of them all
Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 "is done," but it's been delayed again to October for "bug fixing, stability, and performance"
Ben Affleck in Air
Ben Affleck isn't in The Odyssey, but he plans to visit the set anyway to watch Christopher Nolan work: "He's one of the greatest filmmaking architects to ever live"