GTA Online shutting down for Xbox 360 and PS3

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.

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.