GTA Online Drops PS Plus Paywall Ahead of A Safehouse in the Hills DLC

Rockstar flipped the switch: GTA Online on PlayStation no longer needs a PS Plus sub, just in time for today’s big update, A Safehouse in the Hills. If you’ve been waiting to jump back into Los Santos without paying that extra fee, this is your window.

What changed

As of right now, PS4 and PS5 players can play GTA Online without an active PlayStation Plus membership. Rockstar tends to do this around major updates, and today’s mansion-focused DLC definitely qualifies. Longtime community watcher PLTytus spotted the change first and flagged it on X.

How long does the free window last?

The short version: most likely two weeks. Insider Tex2 says the free period is tied to the DLC launch and typically runs about a fortnight, which lines up with it ending around December 23 or 24. Sometimes these windows only go a week, but the size of this update points to the longer run. PLTytus echoed the same general timeframe.

"Playstation players can now play #GTAOnline without PS Plus required. This free play period, timed with the DLC launch, usually lasts two weeks."

What you get with A Safehouse in the Hills

This update is all about going big in Los Santos. Think high-end real estate and the kind of flex that makes your bank account nervous. The headliners and bonuses:

• Purchasable, fully customizable Mansions in the hills of Los Santos
• The return of Michael De Santa
• New luxuries and toys to kit out your life of crime
• Fresh vehicles and ways to live large
• Tools to create your own missions and more

Already have PS Plus?

Nothing changes for you. If you’re subscribed, you can keep playing GTA 5 and GTA Online as usual via the PlayStation Premium and Extra Game Catalog. The free-play switch just removes the barrier for non-subscribers.

Timing and the 'why now'

The DLC launches later today, December 10. Rockstar has a habit of temporarily dropping the PS Plus requirement right when a major update hits to get everyone in the door at once. It’s a smart way to let people try the new toys (and, let’s be honest, maybe convince a few to stick around afterward).

Quick refresher

GTA Online launched October 1, 2013 and is available on PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Bottom line: if you’re on PlayStation without PS Plus, you’ve got roughly two weeks to dive into A Safehouse in the Hills for free, buy a mansion, and see what Michael’s up to this time. What are you grabbing first?