Rockstar Games has never been afraid to speed through controversial topics. The company has literally made billions off of one of the most scrutinized and contentious franchises of all time - Grand Theft Auto. But, while most of Rockstar's decisions have endeared it to fans, often to the chagrin of government regulators and parents around the world, the most recent one has united the gaming community - and not, in a good way.

Riding the rough ties of controversy, Rockstar's decision to excise nearly 200 vehicles from the vast inventory of Grand Theft Auto Online in the latest San Andreas Mercenaries update has resulted in a ton of backlash from the community.

This move, marked as a strategy to "streamline the shopping experience," has sounded the alarm bells, sparking accusations of content paywalling, and inciting questions about the future direction of this online juggernaut.

Much of the backlash appears to be aimed at the vehicle's presumed introduction to GTA+, a premium subscription service exclusive to current-gen consoles where a select few from the pruned list are made exclusively available.

Initially, confusion swirled around whether these vehicles were completely eradicated from the game or tucked behind a paywall. Clarity came in the form of spirited discussions online where fans dissected the implications of this decision.

In the wake of the update, players learned that ownership of the eliminated vehicles will be unaffected. Moreover, next-gen players with a GTA+ membership are allowed to acquire specific removed vehicles offered at the Vinewood Car Club. A grey area persists for last-gen or PC players, who can only obtain these vehicles sporadically via outlets like Luxury Motors and Simeon's dealership, and events like The Lucky Wheel.

Gamers have interpreted Rockstar's unexpected move as an aggressive push towards the Enhanced and Expanded (E&E) version of the game, intended for next-gen consoles. But, the backlash suggests a community feeling increasingly alienated.

GTA Online’s unique appeal lies in its open-world gameplay and its vast pool of accessible resources. It's no surprise that the decision to truncate vehicle availability, coupled with the introduction of a premium subscription service, has been branded as a controversial deviation from this ethos.

The situation has been further exacerbated by the fact that the culled cars are available for purchase solely by GTA+ subscribers, effectively rendering nostalgic rides locked behind a sizable paywall. Among the casualties of this purge are fan-favorites such as the Stirling GT and the Seminole Frontier. The result? A surge in displeasure among fans, who view this decision as a cash grab rather than a gameplay enhancement.

Many fans that Rockstar could have introduced a filter system in the in-game shop to make it easier to navigate through the vehicle list. This would have been a "better" approach and kept the content accessible to all players while addressing the need to simplify the shopping experience.

In the midst of these ripples, Rockstar has remained conspicuously silent on the matter. The lack of an official response to the turmoil has further fueled the community's ire. The game, despite selling over 180 million copies, is grappling with revenue losses, polemic updates, and game-breaking exploits, making the need for a steady hand on the helm all the more pressing.

The removal of these vehicles and the subsequent addition of a paywall is a stark departure from Rockstar's traditionally inclusive approach with GTA. What remains to be seen is how Rockstar navigates this stormy sea of controversy and its impact on the much-anticipated release of GTA 6, potentially slated for a release sometime next year.