The dusty streets of Los Santos and Blaine County may not be the first image that comes to mind when thinking about the holidays, but if Rockstar has its way, they soon will be.
Grand Theft Auto Online has been updated several times since its first release a year ago, though any holiday plans were stunted due to the terrible performance that accompanied its debut. Most players weren't even able to get into the game, much less celebrate Christmas with all the other virtual criminals. This year, however, that's not the case: Grand Theft Auto V saw a smooth launch on next-gen platforms earlier this year, and with everybody playing again, it's time to celebrate the holidays in style.
When it comes to GTA, the best way to do anything is with explosives, and Rockstar has taken that to heart while crafting the 'Festive Surprise' update. As per the usual, the latest update to GTA Online comes with plenty of new content, but this time, it all comes with a dash of Christmas cheer.
First up is the new homing rocket launcher. While the grenade launcher, RPG and fireworks launcher were all great, they weren't necessarily accurate. With the new homing launcher, players won't have to worry about aiming anymore, and if you're worried about someone getting all up in your space, new proximity mines will definitely help.
In terms of other gear, Rockstar is releasing a number of free cosmetic items during the event. Gingerbread masks and ugly Christmas sweaters are just the tip of the iceberg: there's nothing quite as festive as robbing a liquor store while wearing a Santa hat.
It might be strange to see snow in San Andreas, but you can just chalk it up to a Christmas miracle. Throughout the event, snow may fall during gameplay, and if that happens, feel free to round up some people and start a snowball fight! Just be careful; you never know if someone will put rocks in their snowballs...
The new title update, which includes the Festive Surprise event content, is currently rolling out through all platforms. If you're not seeing any new content, just be patient: everything should be out to players by the end of the day.
Oh, and on Christmas Day, remember to check your apartment: you never know if Santa will leave anything under the tree! For more details on the update, head over to the Rockstar Newswire.
