Online services associated with the PlayStation 3 version of Grand Theft Auto V will be taken offline before the end of this year, rendering GTA Online effectively null on the old Sony console. The multiplayer mode will be inaccessible from 16th December 2021, and Shark Cards usable in the PS3 version will no longer be sold starting 16th September. The single player story mode in Grand Theft Auto V won't be impacted by Rockstar flipping the switch on the game's online capabilities.
While we very much doubt there are many users actively playing GTA Online on PS3, the blog post confirming the news states it won't be possible to transfer characters housed on the system to either a PS4 or PS5. "There is no feature available to transfer character data or progress from those platforms." There also won't be any refunds offered for Shark Cards purchased on PS3, either.
Grand Theft Auto V isn't the only Rockstar game affected by this move, however. The PS3 versions of L.A. Noire and Max Payne 3 will also have all of their online services turned off on 16th September 2021. That includes website stat tracking and the Rockstar Games Social Club.
[source support.rockstargames.com]
Comments 29
Dang, and I was planning to get a PS3, too.
End of an era!
L.A Noire had online features? I got the platinum and don't remember those!
As for Max Payne 3. What a game. Get it remastered Rockstar
Sucks for the people who just got PS4 or PS5 and want their progress to be carried on.
What online services did Max Payne 3 have? I don't recall having mp lol
@AFCC It did have multiplayer, and a lot of DLC from the looks of it: https://www.rockstargames.com/maxpayne3/multiplayer
Since when can you not transfer your character?
That was literally a leading selling point for the game when PS4 edition launched. That you could transfer once either to Xbone or PS4.
The game itself needs to head offline . its nearly 10 years old and is a PS3 game itself.
Imagine shutting down a PS3 game so the PS3 game can be played somewhere else...instead of just making a new game. The PS4 never had a GTA game and its full-potential was never used for a GTA game. sad.
Maybe they can start focusing on GTA6 now then 😁
this is a bit odd, as far as I am aware GTA5 is probably the only game with a consistent PS3 online community unless it's dropped off completely recently
Yea Rockstar went from being my favorite dev during the PS2/PS3 era to my least with the PS4. Same will probably continue with the PS5 with them porting there PS3 game to it as well...pathetic.
@Jacko11 It was a time-limited thing, you've not been able to for years now. I think it's partly why they're spinning GTA Online into its own thing, so it's not bound by a console-specific GTA save file.
Yeah it's definitely sad how Rockstar's output has changed so much, despite maintaining such a high quality as a studio with RDR 2. Just one new game in coming up for 10 years now.
@Rob_230 If you were stuck during an interrogation sequence, you could see how other players responded.
Lmaooooo. Pathetic output from a pathetic selfish developer. All for them making money as it’s literally the reason they do it but then not even giving a ***** about fans makes them weasels
@nomither6 I never thought about but there has not been a new GTA for so long. But if it sells on PS5 then you wont be seeing GTA 6 either i guess.
Rockstar Games sucks.
Wow this reminds of when Rockstar made more than a game every 10 years.
Two classics in LA and Max 3…. Would buy a ps4/5 version on Max 3 in a heart beat just like I snapped up Warriors Bully etc…. Rockstar…. Come back to us with more than just GTA and RDR…
@StrawberryPink Ahhhh i do remeber that! Thanks! Great knowledge.
@Stocksy don't know why we didn't get max Payne 2 seen as we got max Payne 1
@PlayNation5 ah thats fair. Tbh I can’t imagine many haven’t already upgraded to at least PS4 and transferred characters.
Thanks for the info 👏🏻
I’m sorry, but why are Rockstar forcing me to get into the last generation and buy a PS4? It’s disgusting. I’m fine with my PS3 thank you. So sick of developers making us bend to their will. I refuse to be just another sheep in the herd. I’m done with GTA Online. See ya!
@Would_you_kindly agreed. Warriors is one of my fave games of all time so I was delighted to get that but not sure why they stopped where they did.
Max Payne 3, yeah that game was sort of dull from what I recall. Big hit for GTA online players though. Were all the updates also added to PS3?
Surely GTA Online for the other platforms is making so much money that they could afford to keep these servers open for the players still using them.
@LiamCroft what the heck! I never saw this despite having played both on PC and PS3 lol
Weirdly I bought the PS3 version digitally a few months ago... not that I play games online anyway with the exception of Dark Souls.
I better go check if this will lock out any multiplayer trophies, fed up of companies creating unobtainable platinums by turning off servers, at least they gave us some notice...
Well i quess it's time to go on a big spending spree for my 2 characters that share a bank of about $45 million. First stop is the Unicorn and make it rain.
The best of GTA online in many ways was the first year. For me that first year was golden. My breaks after hours of play would be reading and responding to the GTA Forum and watching GTA Online videos.
Sad to see it end on the PS3, but the player numbers are probably very low now. However GTAO coming soon to current gen gives me comfort in knowing that my 2 characters, tranfered from PS3 to PS4, will still live on.
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