OpenAI has temporarily disabled sign-ups for its $200-per-month Pro plan because demand for the new Astra model has strained its infrastructure. Product leader Thibault Sottiaux announced the pause on X, noting that this specific tier places the greatest load on the company’s systems. While new subscriptions are halted, access to the API and lower-cost Go and Plus plans remains open. Sottiaux stated the goal was to take the smallest step that allows the broadest access possible, warning earlier in the week that such a change might occur if the unprecedented demand continued. The company has not specified how long the suspension will last or the exact number of daily sign-ups, though it recently raised usage limits for Codex users to manage similar pressure.
This pause highlights the practical limits of scaling advanced models when hardware capacity cannot keep pace with public interest. The move signals that even major players must prioritise existing users over new customers during periods of extreme load. It also reflects the intense competition in areas like reasoning and coding where Astra promises a major leap forward. OpenAI described the launch as the beginning of the AGI era, yet the operational reality shows significant strain on their systems.
* Astra launched on September 3 and is rolling out across Enterprise and Business accounts.
* The company claims the model delivers a generational leap in computer use and coding.
* Sottiaux noted they have gone through very steep growth before but have seen nothing like this.
