[00:00] Over the course of 13 years, GTA Online has been available across three separate console generations, is still playable on two of them, and has released nearly 50 named content updates.
[00:14] GTA 6 is finally just around the corner, but it won't be launching with an online mode. Fear not, because there is still so much to do around San Andreas to tide you over. If you're making the return trip after a long time away, or you want a reminder of the vast amount of content,
[00:27] Here is everything major added to GTA Online since launch. Before we get started, there are a few things I should note. In this video, I'll be focusing on the major content patches with bigger gameplay ramifications,
[00:40] and omitting the smaller title updates that were in between those major patches. Many of the patches added various land, sea, and air races, as well as competitive PvP maps, but for the sake of brevity, I'll be omitting those.
[00:52] Unique PDP adversary modes will cycle out frequently with updates rather than keeping them active all the time. Due to this, I won't cover them in particular, but would highly suggest checking out the available adversary modes in the job menu if you're up for a laugh.
[01:07] While GCA Online has added a lot of content, it has also removed plenty over the years. Because of that, what you actually do while playing has changed drastically. I'll be focusing on content that you can still access right now, so the beginning of
[01:20] this video may seem more like a description of what GTA Online is, rather than everything that has been added since launch. But that's only because the updates have influenced it so deeply. Okay, with that all out of the way, let's get started. It's... a lot.
[01:39] The main crux of GTA Online revolves around gaining as much money as possible, that way you can buy as many toys as you want. What's a great way to earn money? Well, if you If you have enough startup capital to buy one of the many executive offices around Los
[01:51] Santos, you can actually register as a CEO, letting you run a business. Once you do, you can hire other players as business associates, launch special VIP work around the open world, and use special CEO abilities.
[02:06] But how do we earn money exactly? With a warehouse, we can collect illicit contraband or special vehicles and sell those goods for a profit. Also, if you don't have the capital to buy an executive office yet, as long as you have
[02:19] $50,000 on hand, you can register as a VIP which is essentially a temporary watered down version of a CEO that doesn't let you customize an office or sell cargo for cash.
[02:31] Similar to becoming a CEO, you can start your own motorcycle club. All you need to do is buy a clubhouse and then register as an MC president. You can then hire other players into your club and assign unique roles with abilities
[02:44] for up to 4 players. For instance, a player can be set as a sergeant at arms and they will have the ability to drop molotovs and ammo. As either a MC president or road captain, you can set riding formations which will regenerate
[02:57] health and also look pretty cool. As a MC president, you can acquire illicit businesses like a weed farm, meth lab, counterfeit cash factory, etc. And it's your job to keep those businesses stocked with supplies and
[03:10] keep your product well defended before it is sold. After buying a bunker, you can set it up as an underground fortress for gun running activities. To do this, you will still need to be either a CEO or MC president. Once you do, you will
[03:26] need to source supplies to your employees who will either manufacture weapons or research upgrades. Arms dealers will also be able to invest into a mobile operations center, which allows for a customizable workshop and living quarters that you can bring to you across the map.
[03:40] This actually is a great way to customize the weaponized vehicles that you can research. You can also customize mark 2 variants of weapons here with new attachments and special ammo types.
[03:53] After purchasing a nightclub and meeting with an old friend from Liberty City Me, Jay Tony. Me, Jay Tony. I'm a celebrity here. Me and him. You'll be able to hire warehouse technicians to gather goods from your other passive businesses.
[04:08] Think of the nightclub as a hub for some of your other businesses Nightclubs also introduce a popularity system With the higher the meter the more money the nightclub will possibly earn in its wall save each day How do you increase popularity By promoting and
[04:22] managing your club, like hiring the right resident DJ. Don't forget to hit up the dance floor with your friends. Have you been wondering what happened to Franklin after the events of GTA 5?
[04:34] Well, with the agency business, your GTA Online protagonist can work directly with him. Unlike some of the aforementioned businesses, agencies are less about manufacturing and more so about performing high-paying jobs.
[04:47] For instance, you and Franklin can go hunt down Dr. Dre's stolen tracks across San Andreas. The agency also gives you access to a money check that allows certain vehicles to have special upgrades like a missile lock-on jammer, armored plating, or a remote control unit.
[05:05] There are plenty of smaller businesses to look into, especially if you prefer to play solo. For instance, you can buy a hangar. After purchasing a hangar, you'll be able to buy, store, and upgrade aircraft vehicles. As a CEO or MC, you'll be able to run air freight cargo missions.
[05:21] Aircraft's not your thing? Well, why not set up a mobile acid lab in the back of a truck? This can be done at the freak shop after completing six of the Los Santos Drug Wars first dose missions. Unlike other CEO and MC businesses, the acid lab cannot be raided,
[05:36] so as long as you keep your supplies up, it can act as a great way to earn passive income from new players. You can also buy a salvage yard that allows players to participate in robberies that act like mini-hypes, a topic we will cover more in depth later in the video.
[05:50] Salvage yards also let players handle tow truck jobs in an effort to scrap cars for profit. We've talked about plenty of ways to gain illicit cash throughout San Andreas, but what if you wanted to take a different approach? You can now take over the bottom dollar bail enforcement business and with that, tackle
[06:05] bounty hire missions, and even let out your inner Walter White by using legitimate businesses like a car wash for illegitimate money laundering purposes.
[06:20] If you were following the first two years of GTA Online content, you will remember how hyped people were for multiplayer heists, as those missions were arguably the best part about the single player game. For those who need a reminder, heists are essentially a series of setup missions that
[06:34] all lead to a finale mission with a high payout. Think of them as GTA Online's version of a cooperative raid. You can set roles for your crew to accomplish, you can take different approaches on certain heists, and you can even modify the payouts for each player upon a successful completion.
[06:49] This is all done through the heist setup board per mission. Once added to GTA Online, there were five heists to tackle, with the Pacific Standard Job having the highest potential payout.
[07:01] Following up on the five heist launch, the Doomsday Heist is one large heist split up into a three-act structure focused on stopping a global threat. It also introduces the Avenger, which is essentially a giant VTOL aircraft and a mobile military
[07:14] base. Also you get to use an orbital cannon, which is inherently cool and maybe a bit over the top even for GTA standards.
[07:30] The Diamond Casino update added more than just another heist. As you can imagine, it gave you an entire casino to explore that allowed players to play slots, blackjack, poker, and roulette. If that wasn't enough, it also gives you access to a customizable arcade, which will be your base of operations for the new heist.
[07:47] As for the heist itself, there are three distinct approaches a crew can take, making the experience a little more customizable than some of the earlier heists. While the Diamond Casino heist added a new large building, the Cayo Perico heist actually
[08:02] added a rather large island to explore. Before the actual heist, the player will be able to scout out the island, and they'll notice elements of the island will change from run to run. Unlike other heists, Cayo Perico can actually be handled solo if the player wants.
[08:16] If that wasn't enough, you now get to own your own submarine. Neat. The Quartz Center Heist is the latest one added to GTA Online. Unlike Caio Perico open design the Quartz Center Heist feels much more tightly contained as the player pulls off a classic art heist This heist also has a very high cost of entry so be sure to save up money if you want to get it a go
[08:43] If heists were categorized into drink sizes you'd get at a fast food restaurant, the Cluckin' Bell raid would be the medium 20 ounce coke compared to the large 32 ounce you'd find with the fryer. It follows the same structure of setup missions leading into a larger finale mission,
[08:57] but it doesn't require you to buy a property to access the mission. Between the lack of a setup cost and the fact that it can be completed as a solo player, the farm rate is a great option for new players to check out, even if the payout isn't as grand.
[09:12] Do you remember Lester's Garment Factory from single player? Well, you can purchase it to act as a secret base of operations to conduct missions with a rogue FIV agent targeting high-value government secrets and technology.
[09:25] Think of these as the smaller, 12 ounce size heists. You will still do a series of setup missions, which will lead into a larger finale mission, but they are more compact and easier to repeat.
[09:37] Over the course of the nearly 50 named updates to GTA Online, there have been a plethora of contact missions added to enjoy. Think of these as your standard jobs, specifically the ones you get from the contacts on your
[09:49] phone. These story driven missions will have you interact with both old and new GTA characters, and trust me, there's a lot of wacky dialogue to take in. Could use a dirty-ass be-lie-ee-sage.
[10:01] What?! Along with the plethora of lowriders added to GTA Online, players can now access a specialized customization shop for them.
[10:15] Just like in GTA San Andreas, you can now add hydraulics, as well as other unique visual modifications. How special works lets the player perform advanced performance tuning on certain vehicles,
[10:28] allowing them to receive faster engines, better brakes, and more. With that, there are now special HSW races and time trials that really lets the player test out their new modified rides.
[10:41] Do you still count Tokyo Drift as the best Fast and Furious movie? Well, you might be interested in the Drift Tuning Edition to GTA Online. For the measly price of $200,000, you can add the Drift Tune upgrade to your vehicle, which drastically changes how they handle,
[10:56] as opposed to just simply making them faster. There is only a list of about 20 or so vehicles that can have this upgrade, so plan accordingly if you want to drift around the city.
[11:09] You can break out your inner Mad Max with Arena War, which is a dedicated arena where players can build and compete with heavily modified combat vehicles. vehicles. Be warned, it isn't always easy to find matches nowadays, but it is still
[11:21] available to play for patient players, or those with a dedicated group. Hundreds and hundreds of vehicles have been added to GTA Online. So many, in fact, that Rockstar has controversially cycled many of them out from being purchasable via normal
[11:37] means in the game. Over time, they have made alternate ways to obtain some of these vehicles. One such method was through the optional subscription service called GTA+, which grants access to the Bilewood Car Club and its rotating lineup of vehicles.
[11:51] As opposed to going over all the cars that had been added, I want to highlight some of the notable ones. The DeLorean-inspired Deluxo would make any Back to the Future fan smile as you take off and fly throughout San Andreas.
[12:04] If you like flying around, you may enjoy the rocket-equipped Oppressor bike. Be warned though, the bike is controversial as it's become synonymous with free-mode griefing and many believe it trivializes traversing the map.
[12:21] Much like vehicles, there have been a plethora of weapons added to GTA Online. In fact, there are over 100 weapons available now if you include the MK2 variants. Seriously, just look at how many melee weapons we now have that essentially do the same thing.
[12:36] Not that I'm complaining. I understand there is value to the aesthetic of a certain weapon. Regardless, I'd like to go over a few notable weapons that have been added over the years The homing launcher added a missile lock system that is essential when combating aircraft or other moving targets On the other end the flare gun allows players to divert
[12:58] incoming homing missiles. It also allows you to set your friends on fire with a customizable flare color. Once again, neat! The rail gun fires a powerful
[13:11] electromagnetic projectiles that deals heavy damage for players and vehicles. Finally, I wanted to highlight the up and atomizer that shoots an explosive pulse that launches players into the air. It doesn't have ammo, instead needing to
[13:26] recharge in between shots. It can be a great tool to push a vehicle that is stuck, or to simply launch your friend into something deadly. New and returning players should make it a point to check out the Gun Van.
[13:45] It acts as a traveling weapons dealer which sells a limited, but powerful, selection of weapons. It includes inventories that you wouldn't be able to find at your standard ammunition. There is no level or research requirement.
[13:57] All you need is cold hard cash. If you played GTA Online before, you would know how essential snacks and body armor are. Essentially, snacks let you refill your health mid-mission, and you can equip more body armor to protect that health.
[14:15] When the game launched, you had to go through the cumbersome interaction menu to consume snacks or to equip body armor, a task that would often get you killed by the time you reached those options in the menu. Rockstar eventually added the ability to eat snacks or equip body armor through the weapon wheel menu with a hotkey.
[14:32] This simple quality of life update fundamentally changes the game and feels like a necessity during some of the tougher heists. As if there wasn't enough content already in GTA Online, players can also create and publish their own content through a built-in tool.
[14:48] This allows players to create races, deathmatch maps, capture maps, and more. Planning on performing some cool stunts around the city? You can record and edit these clips with another tool called the Rockstar Editor. Something to note, this feature is now only available on the PS5, Xbox Series S, X, and
[15:05] PC versions of the game. We have gone over an abundance of properties that you can purchase so far in the video, but can you believe there is still more? Do you want a yacht?
[15:17] You can get a yacht. What about a luxury apartment? A casino penthouse? A mansion? Yep, you can buy and customize each and every one. If you invest into a mansion, you will be on your way to meet some old friend again.
[15:31] This is a nice neighborhood. Fucking assholes. When GTA Online launched, you were unable to handle the sale of goods on invite-only
[15:45] private sessions. So if you had a lot to sell, you risked losing a lot of money once that global signal was sent to everyone on a public server. The Criminal Enterprises update changed all that by letting players sell goods on invite-only sessions,
[15:59] and made it much safer and accessible for solo players trying to run their businesses. If you want a higher-risk, higher-reward option, you can still sell your goods on a public server and receive a better payout. This is often cited as one of the most game-changing quality-of-life features they have ever added since launch.
[16:18] Do you have a GTA Online character on a previous-generation console? Well, you can actually transfer that character to a newer generation with no issue. You can also transfer your console character onto a PC account if you so desire.
[16:32] Just know once you do, you cannot transfer it back. This also applies to the enhanced PC port released last year. It might be a good idea to confirm that the enhanced port runs well on your computer before you transfer your character onto it.
[16:46] As you can see, after 13 years, Rockstar is still finding plenty of things for us to do in GTA Online. Be sure to check out our wiki for more GTA Online tips and tricks,
[16:58] and also check out our coverage for GTA 6 as we get closer to launch. For everything else gaming, keep it here on IGN.