Grand Theft Auto Online it may be almost a decade old, but it’s still popular and getting big updates from developer Rockstar. In fact, later this month the next major free expansion will be released, with a focus on air warfare and smuggling. But it also brings with it some nice quality of life changes that make it easier to get around Los Santos.
Since its launch in October 2013 GTA Online has continued to be updated, expanded and ported as millions of players keep returning to the game’s vast open world to commit more crimes alongside (or against) other players and NPCs. At this point, GTA Online has been around for so long that it has had to go through three different generations of consoles to keep up with gamers and the ever-changing video game industry. It also receives updates every year, such as the just-announced June 13 update: San Andreas Mercenaries.
Rockstar announced the first details on Friday around GTA Onlineis the next big addition to the company’s official website. This time, players will team up with vets and military pilots to take on Merryweather Security, a large PMC that has been in the game for years but now appears to be expanding its operations and meddling in criminal operations. To battle the evil private security forces, players will join a new mercenary group known only as the Los Santos Angels and take on new quests, including stealing data from server farms, launching raids on the PMC, and dropping Bombs on valuable targets across the country state.
According to Rockstar, this new update will expand the functionality of the added aircraft hangar Smuggler update from 2017. This is nice as this part of the game has long since felt abandoned and old. The publisher also promises changes to improve the existing Avenger, a large aircraft that was added in a previous update.
GTA OnlineThe next free update of will bring more quality of life changes
As has become the norm in recent updatesRockstar isn’t just adding big new missions and business opportunities GTA Online with the June 13 update. Also, some long-requested features are added back to make the game less tedious.
A big problem is that players can finally choose a new option to sprint. Currently, players have to keep pressing the X or A button to sprint in GTA Online. The faster you crush, the faster your character runs. This is a nice idea, but has long been considered annoying and potentially a hindrance for some players who lack the dexterity to press keys repeatedly and quickly. Now Rockstar is adding a “hold to sprint” option to the game, which is much appreciated.
Another nice quality of life change is that after June 13th, players will be able to replace all of their destroyed vehicles at once via Mors Mutual Insurance. Another nice change that makes me wonder, “Why wasn’t it like that from the start?” Rockstar is also expanding the content creation tools by adding more props and snow options.
All in all, it’s a solid update that, while not the most exciting in the game’s history, is one that will be appreciated by people who’ve spent the last decade tapping X for hundreds of hours just to to run faster. Finally we are free.
