What happened
OpenAI product lead Thibault Sottiaux posted on X on September 10 that new signups for ChatGPT's Pro (20x) plan are paused because of demand for GPT-6 Astra, released September 3.
Why it matters
The plan selection screen now reads "the 20X plan cannot be purchased temporarily," turning Sottiaux's September 9 warning that new Pro subscriptions might have to be suspended into an actual measure.
What to watch
Sottiaux said the company is working to add capacity as quickly as possible and that existing subscribers are unaffected, so the test is whether Astra's load eases before the pause lifts.
WHO IT HITSExisting ChatGPT Pro (20x) subscribers keep their access, including Astra's "Pro reasoning" mode, while new individual buyers are blocked at checkout. Teams or individuals planning to sign up for the top tier to get Astra's higher usage limits face a wait until capacity is added.
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OpenAI released GPT-6 Astra on September 3, and the strain showed up almost immediately. On September 9, Sottiaux warned on X that Astra's demand was unprecedented and that if the situation continued he might have to suspend new Pro subscriptions. A day later, he confirmed the suspension, and ChatGPT's plan screen now tells buyers the 20X plan cannot be purchased temporarily.
ChatGPT currently offers five consumer plans: a free tier plus Go, Plus, Pro (5x) and Pro (20x). The Pro tier is where Astra's "Pro reasoning" mode and expanded usage limits live, so the pause lands precisely on the plan that gives access to the new model's heavier capabilities.
The pause is a capacity decision rather than a product withdrawal, and its length hinges on how fast OpenAI can add computing resources. Existing subscribers retain their access, so the pressure sits on new buyers at the top end of the plan ladder while the company works to catch up.
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