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~~.

On September 17, 2024 (11 years after release), Rockstar implemented a controversial update that included a more invasive and dangerous kernel-mode anti-cheat made by BattlEye. This update retroactively restricted GTA Online usage to the Windows operating system, despite previously being fully functional on other operating systems like Linux and SteamOS. Despite the BattleEye anti-cheat being Linux compatible with minimal effort, Rockstar still chose to not support the operating system, hence leaving buyers without the product they paid for.

Due to the BattleEye anti-cheat being a requirement to run GTA V, if a customer decides not to install it they won't be able to sign in to the Rockstar Launcher even if they wish to play singleplayer. 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 the singleplayer mode.

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

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

While many publishers permit Steam Family Sharing, a feature that allows users to share their game libraries with other accounts, Rockstar does not allow it.{{Citation needed}}

===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.

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.
+On September 17, 2024 (11 years after release), Rockstar implemented a controversial update that included a more invasive and dangerous kernel-mode anti-cheat made by BattlEye. This update retroactively restricted GTA Online usage to the Windows operating system, despite previously being fully functional on other operating systems like Linux and SteamOS. Despite the BattleEye anti-cheat being Linux compatible with minimal effort, Rockstar still chose to not support the operating system, hence leaving buyers without the product they paid for.
+Due to the BattleEye anti-cheat being a requirement to run GTA V, if a customer decides not to install it they won't be able to sign in to the Rockstar Launcher even if they wish to play singleplayer. 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 the singleplayer mode.
 ===Rockstar prevents borrowing games on Steam===
-Other publishers allow borrowing of games for family members, Rockstar does not allow it.
+While many publishers permit Steam Family Sharing, a feature that allows users to share their game libraries with other accounts, Rockstar does not allow it.{{Citation needed}}
 ===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.
+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==