Rockstar Games: Difference between revisions

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===Rockstar - GTA 4 content removal===

Licensing for some songs in ''GTA 4'' have run out, and updates to the game have been removing content after purchase.<ref>https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/360001005308/Music-Updates-in-Grand-Theft-Auto-IV-The-Lost-and-Damned-and-The-Ballad-of-Gay-Tony</ref> A list of removed songs can be found here<ref>https://gtaforums.com/topic/908139-iv-song-removal-due-to-licenses-expiring/</ref> and here.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8f4crm/the_update_for_gta_4_removes_songs_from_the/</ref> Players who purchased a physical disk copy can enjoy the full soundtrack but cannot update without losing content.

Licensing for some songs in ''GTA 4'' have run out, and updates to the game have been removing content after purchase.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/360001005308/Music-Updates-in-Grand-Theft-Auto-IV-The-Lost-and-Damned-and-The-Ballad-of-Gay-Tony|title=Music Updates in Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony|date=2018-04-18|work=Rockstar Games Support|access-date=2025-04-02|archive-url=https://archive.ph/MHBy0|archive-date=2025-04-02|url-status=live}}</ref> A list of removed songs can be found here<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gtaforums.com/topic/908139-iv-song-removal-due-to-licenses-expiring/|title=IV Song Removal Due to Licenses expiring.|date=2018-04-18|author=edups|work=GTAForums|access-date=2025-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321070236/https://gtaforums.com/topic/908139-iv-song-removal-due-to-licenses-expiring/|archive-date=2025-03-21|url-status=live}}</ref> and here.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8f4crm/the_update_for_gta_4_removes_songs_from_the/|title=The update for GTA 4 removes songs from the ingame radio stations. Here is the list of songs removed|author=u/TransAmConnor|work=Reddit|date=2018-04-26|access-date=2025-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429055804/https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8f4crm/the_update_for_gta_4_removes_songs_from_the/|archive-date=2018-04-29|url-status=live}}</ref> Players who purchased a physical disk copy can enjoy the full soundtrack but cannot update without losing content.

===Rockstar - GTA 5 move to kernel-level anti-cheat on PC after purchase===

{{Main|GTA 5 moves to kernel-level anti-cheat on PC after purchase}}

On September 17, 2024 (11 years after release), Rockstar implemented a controversial update that included a more invasive and dangerous kernel-mode anti-cheat by BattlEye. This update retroactively restricted online usage to the Windows operating system, despite being fully functional on other operating systems like Linux and SteamOS. ''GTA 5 Online'' did work prior to this breaking change. Furthermore the kernel-level anti-cheat BattlEye is compatible with Linux, Rockstar chose not to take minimal steps to enable support.

Due to GTA 5 requiring BattleEye anti-cheat if a customer decides not to install it he won't be able to sign in to Rockstar Launcher and play singleplayer game that he paid for. There are workarounds for this such as using offline mode on Steam, but the game requires you to activate its license by logging in to Rockstar Launcher atleast once when you install it and about every week you will need to reactivate this license to continue playing singleplayer mode.

===Rockstar prevents borrowing games on Steam===

Other publishers allow borrowing of games for family members, Rockstar does not allow it.

===Rockstar forces arbitration agreement after the sale===

As of March 28, 2025, Rockstar Games Launcher is now forcing customers to accept the current terms and conditions which were updated February 28th, 2025. This includes an arbitration agreement that may only be opted out of using a letter delivered via official mail courier services. <ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Rockstar Legal |url=https://www.rockstargames.com/legal}}</ref> This affects owners of any games through the Rockstar Games Launcher as well as Steam users who own games that require it's use and completely blocks them from using the products they paid for until they agree.

==References==

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 ===Rockstar - GTA 4 content removal===
-Licensing for some songs in ''GTA 4'' have run out, and updates to the game have been removing content after purchase.<ref>https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/360001005308/Music-Updates-in-Grand-Theft-Auto-IV-The-Lost-and-Damned-and-The-Ballad-of-Gay-Tony</ref> A list of removed songs can be found here<ref>https://gtaforums.com/topic/908139-iv-song-removal-due-to-licenses-expiring/</ref> and here.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8f4crm/the_update_for_gta_4_removes_songs_from_the/</ref> Players who purchased a physical disk copy can enjoy the full soundtrack but cannot update without losing content.
+Licensing for some songs in ''GTA 4'' have run out, and updates to the game have been removing content after purchase.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/360001005308/Music-Updates-in-Grand-Theft-Auto-IV-The-Lost-and-Damned-and-The-Ballad-of-Gay-Tony|title=Music Updates in Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony|date=2018-04-18|work=Rockstar Games Support|access-date=2025-04-02|archive-url=https://archive.ph/MHBy0|archive-date=2025-04-02|url-status=live}}</ref> A list of removed songs can be found here<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gtaforums.com/topic/908139-iv-song-removal-due-to-licenses-expiring/|title=IV Song Removal Due to Licenses expiring.|date=2018-04-18|author=edups|work=GTAForums|access-date=2025-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321070236/https://gtaforums.com/topic/908139-iv-song-removal-due-to-licenses-expiring/|archive-date=2025-03-21|url-status=live}}</ref> and here.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8f4crm/the_update_for_gta_4_removes_songs_from_the/|title=The update for GTA 4 removes songs from the ingame radio stations. Here is the list of songs removed|author=u/TransAmConnor|work=Reddit|date=2018-04-26|access-date=2025-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429055804/https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8f4crm/the_update_for_gta_4_removes_songs_from_the/|archive-date=2018-04-29|url-status=live}}</ref> Players who purchased a physical disk copy can enjoy the full soundtrack but cannot update without losing content.
 ===Rockstar - GTA 5 move to kernel-level anti-cheat on PC after purchase===
 {{Main|GTA 5 moves to kernel-level anti-cheat on PC after purchase}}
 On September 17, 2024 (11 years after release), Rockstar implemented a controversial update that included a more invasive and dangerous kernel-mode anti-cheat by BattlEye. This update retroactively restricted online usage to the Windows operating system, despite being fully functional on other operating systems like Linux and SteamOS. ''GTA 5 Online'' did work prior to this breaking change. Furthermore the kernel-level anti-cheat BattlEye is compatible with Linux, Rockstar chose not to take minimal steps to enable support.
+Due to GTA 5 requiring BattleEye anti-cheat if a customer decides not to install it he won't be able to sign in to Rockstar Launcher and play singleplayer game that he paid for. There are workarounds for this such as using offline mode on Steam, but the game requires you to activate its license by logging in to Rockstar Launcher atleast once when you install it and about every week you will need to reactivate this license to continue playing singleplayer mode.
 ===Rockstar prevents borrowing games on Steam===
 Other publishers allow borrowing of games for family members, Rockstar does not allow it.
+===Rockstar forces arbitration agreement after the sale===
+As of March 28, 2025, Rockstar Games Launcher is now forcing customers to accept the current terms and conditions which were updated February 28th, 2025. This includes an arbitration agreement that may only be opted out of using a letter delivered via official mail courier services. <ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Rockstar Legal |url=https://www.rockstargames.com/legal}}</ref> This affects owners of any games through the Rockstar Games Launcher as well as Steam users who own games that require it's use and completely blocks them from using the products they paid for until they agree.
 ==References==