Around 24 hours ago, Rockstar Games pulled the PC version of its just-released Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition with little explanation or ETA on when it would return.
As Kotaku reports, the page on Rockstar’s own website that directs consumers to buy the game no longer mentions the PC version, and the Rockstar Launcher required to access the game for anyone who’s purchased it already has gone completely offline.
Services for the Rockstar Games Launcher and supported titles are temporarily offline for maintenance. Services will return as soon as maintenance is completed.
— Rockstar Support (@RockstarSupport) November 11, 2021
We thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to work on restoring services for the Rockstar Games Launcher and supported titles.
— Rockstar Support (@RockstarSupport) November 12, 2021
Currently, anyone who’s signed into the Rockstar Launcher previously and installed the trilogy is able to play in offline mode, but those who are yet to purchase or have bought the game but not installed it are seemingly out of lock – as is anybody hoping to play Grand Theft Auto V or Red Dead Redemption 2 online.
Coincidentally, or perhaps not, dataminers have subsequently investigated the PC installations of the game and found files that likely weren’t meant to be found including developer notes and files from music that had been ‘cut’ from the game:
So the audio format of choice for the Definitive Editions is OGG-VORBIS! More interesting however, San Andreas contains all the cut music! It's just disabled by script! pic.twitter.com/FBGJINdBYy
— Ash R. (@Ash_735) November 11, 2021
It’s unclear at this stage whether Rockstar has pulled the game to remove the offending files, or if they’re having genuine issues with the launcher, but we’ll endeavour to update this story when things return to normal.