GTA Online Is Free For Another 48 Hours

1 week ago 20

Published Jul 18, 2026, 5:30 PM EDT

Jared is a writer, editor, and Communications Studies graduate who loves popular nerd culture (almost anything to do with Marvel, DC, Star Wars, or The Lord of the Rings) and the interactive storytelling medium. Jared's first console was the PS1, wherein he fell for Spider-Man, Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot.

It wasn’t too long ago that it seemed as if we’d never hear from Rockstar about Grand Theft Auto 6 again, leaving us with Grand Theft Auto 5 and Grand Theft Auto Online. Now, it seems like it’s right around the corner, approaching faster than anyone may be prepared for, and GTA 6’s preorder/Ultimate edition controversy has arguably tainted it somewhat.

Either way, gamers who’ve yet to find themselves swept up in Grand Theft Auto 6’s hype, maybe if they’ve never been interested in the franchise or are only now beginning to be interested due to how much buzz this upcoming installment has, may have the best litmus test in front of them to help decide whether it’s a franchise they’ll want to invest in. Indeed, with it being Grand Theft Auto 5’s endgame of sorts, there’s no better time to explore what GTA Online has to offer.

Since July 14, as shared by user GTA 6 Countdown on Twitter/X, GTA Online has been free to play on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. This trial doesn’t require players to be subscribed to either PlayStation Plus or Game Pass Essential, and only lasts until July 20, meaning fans only have 48 hours left with it on either platform.

The free trial purposefully coincides with GTA Online’s new heist, the Kortz Center Heist, allowing players to check out all the new updates associated with this new heist. Unfortunately, GTA Online is not available for free for PS4 and Xbox One during this period.

The Kortz Center Heist, as well as the nerfs that it has brought with it in this new GTA Online update, are not being received well by fans at all, with many saying that it is incredibly grindy. Nonetheless, it’s been neat to have a decently sized window in which players can try it out for free.

Depending on how favorable new updates are between now and November, it’d be fun to see additional trial periods in order for Rockstar to invite gamers into the world of the Grand Theft Auto franchise before Grand Theft Auto 6 launches, even if the future of GTA Online itself is uncertain.

Moreover, with only several months left until the official release of Grand Theft Auto 6, it’ll be interesting to see how much Rockstar leans on GTA Online for engagement with its playerbase community. Fans are still waiting to hear what the plan will be regarding Grand Theft Auto 6’s own online component, whether that’ll simply be Grand Theft Auto Online with a fresh coat of paint or a brand-new online experience altogether, but this heist doesn’t necessarily bode well for them in the meantime.