GTA 5 Update Removes Song, Likely Over An Expired Licence

Licensing issues are nothing new in the gaming industry. When a game gets a re-release, we can often expect some licenced songs or other media to be absent, as the deal to get them in the original has expired.

However, with games being increasingly "live" now, constantly receiving updates, material can be removed without the need for a re-release. Now, it looks like this has happened to GTA 5, with a new update removing a song from one of the radio stations - a first for the game.

'The Time Is Now' By Moloko Is The First Song To Be Removed From GTA 5 Through An Update

This was spotted by Rockstar dataminer Tex, who shared that the song 'The Time Is Now' by Moloko had been removed in an update to GTA 5 Enhanced Edition. Indeed, we can see on SteamDB that there was an update to the game earlier today. It's likely that the same will be true on console.

While no reason for the song's removal has been shared, it is widely assumed that it is in relation to an expired licence. If true, then we might see other songs get removed as time goes on, as GTA 5 turns 13 in just two days.

This is not a first for Rockstar. Previously, we saw an update remove several songs from GTA 4's radio stations, as licences expired. This was way back in 2018, so it's something Rockstar has clearly felt compelled to do for a while.

What is surprising, however, is that we don't often see licenced songs removed from games in updates like this. Fallout 4 has kept its tracks as the years have gone by, only losing 'The Wanderer' when the game was re-released, rather than having it removed from the original in an update.

Perhaps GTA 5's live nature through GTA Online means that Rockstar is compelled to remove tracks if it won't renew the licence. In which case, it would make sense for Rockstar to let some fall through the cracks, as it has a whole host of new songs to licence for GTA 6. And while this is pure speculation, I have to wonder if record labels have upped the price on renewing licences, given all the attention on Rockstar right now?

In any case, we'll have a new GTA game to play soon enough, as GTA 6 is set to launch on November 19.

Grand Theft Auto 6

Action Adventure Systems OpenCritic ReviewsReleased November 19, 2026 ESRB Rating Pending - Likely Mature 17+ Developer(s) Rockstar Games Publisher(s) Rockstar Games 8 Images

Engine Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE) Genre(s) Action, Adventure