GTA 5 is something else at night

Rockstar's attention to detail in the GTA games has always been a major point of praise. The new-gen version of GTA 5 elevates that even further with its upgraded graphics and increased NPC count.
The short below by The XXI captures the life in GTA by night. All those NPCs going about their lives, all of which you've probably missed in your pursuit of a new gun or a fast car.

The city looks best at night, but what adds even more weight to all the scenery is how NPCs act like how you'd expect regular pedestrians to act.

GTA Online: Rockstar will still support Xbox 360 and PS3 with new DLC

Rockstar has said it will continue to support the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of GTA Online with new content after Heists.
Answering questions from players on the official site, the company said it had no plans to drop support for older systems although it admitted there will come a point when it just will not be technically possible.

Some players have expressed concern that now the game is on PS4, Xbox One and PC soon, support for the older versions released in 2013 would dry up. But time is not up for the Xbox 360 and PS3 yet - more content will come after the release of Heists in early 2015.

"Players on PS3 and Xbox 360 can look forward to Online Heists and other updates that are in the works coming soon," said Rockstar.

"We are incredibly thankful to our original generation of GTAV and GTA Online players on those systems and wish to continue providing content to them for as long as we can.

"Of course, at some point in the future, there may be a point where we reach the limits for the previous generation of consoles as there may be some updates that are only technically possible on the new hardware - but we do hope to continue delivering as many updates as we can for all four consoles for as long as possible. "

The next update for all four versions of Grand Theft Auto Online will be a "Christmas gift" to keep players busy over the festive period.

GTA Online guide: best missions for RP and cash

Want to earn maximum RP and cash while having fun in GTA Online? Here's a growing walkthrough and guide to the best Missions in GTA 5.

Best GTA Online Missions for RP and cash
This is a living document that we'll update over the coming weeks and months with more Missions. Bookmark this page and come back for more shortly ...

The basics

Before we get started let's go over some of the basics. Always play Missions in co-op with other team members. Headsets will make it a lot easier than playing with silent strangers, and you'll bag more RP and cash rewards for playing with others. Most of these jobs require at least two people anyway.

You get more RP for playing with Friends, and even more if you're playing with other Crew members. Some Missions can be done solo at a push, but you will not get the most out of them in terms of rewards, Rank and fun.

All of the following have been played with Crew members who are also Friends and we've cranked the difficulty up to Hard for max payout. There's no exact science to the amount of RP and cash you receive for completing a Mission so the RP and $ we've noted below will vary (and we've rounded them down to the nearest $ 10). The amount of cash and RP awarded also depends on the time spent completing the job - the longer you spend on a job the higher the reward.

Remember that the first time you complete a mission you'll get double the RP for it. But only the first time.

We're also going to assume you're taking these on with standard, decent weapons. You should always start a mission wearing armour and packing plenty of ammo and a few explosives.

A Boat in the Bay

Unlocks at: Rank 50

RP reward: 2,900

Cash payout $ 15,700

Players: 1-4

A Boat in the Bay sends you to the very top of the map to grab a boat full of coke for Trevor, which you then need to take to a jetty in the Alamo Sea.

The first set of enemies are on the beach. As you approach use the high ground near the picnic area to pick them off using sniper rifles. Once those are down, head onto the beach and you'll come across a bunch of enemies near some rocks. If you have explosives or grenade launchers, target their vehicle for multiple kills.

Now advance forward and use the rocks and burnt out wreckage as cover to take out the bigger group at the very top of the beach. Again, hit their vehicles to take down more than one at a time or use scoped rifles to pop them from afar. There's a lot of enemies here using crates for cover so take your time. Be careful not the blow up the boat on the shoreline.

Once the area is secure, you need one person to pilot the speed boat and at least one more to sit in the other seat and shoot. If you have a Buzzard attack chopper this part becomes a whole lot easier, as the pilot can escort the boat to the jetty.

Out on the sea you'll be attacked by one speed boat and one helicopter. The boat is not a massive problem, but the helicopter has a sniper in it. Anyone on the boat should target the sniper (do not worry about taking out the chopper, just the guy with the gun) and the armed guy in the boat.

Following the yellow marker you'll see you have to pilot the boat up the river into the Alamo Sea, which means going headlong up three sets of rapids. At the same time you'll be attacked by enemies on the sides of the canyon and the overhead bridges. This is where someone with a Buzzard makes the Mission a whole lot easier.

Without a chopper, have the pilot of the boat focus purely on getting up the rapids and keeping the boat in the water - it can be easy to bounce it out onto the rocks where it will get stuck or worse, explode. You'll probably lose any players who are standing in the boat as they get tossed overboard but do not go back for them. Remember you only need one person to finish the mission to reap the rewards. Once you get to the Alamo Sea it's all done - pilot it to the jetty and you're golden.

Sinking Feeling

Unlocks at: Rank 55

RP reward: 2,200

Cash payout $ 21,000

Players: 1-4

You need to snatch two SUVs filled with explosives and drop them off at Lester's warehouse but this job is not as easy as it first appears.

The majority of this job is underground so forget using anything other than cars and bikes. It's also in a confined space so you'll need to use cover and ease off on the explosives - you do not want to blow up your targets.

Head through the tunnel (it's quite a way) until you get to the corrugated iron ramp, then leave your vehicles. Down the corridor take out a couple of guards, then advance a little more for a shootout in a Metro station. There are enemies around the escalator and building equipment so use good short-range weapons like the Combat Shotgun. Be careful of the Metro train that comes through often. Over the other side of the tracks you'll see the two SUVs.

Once you've dealt with everyone here get in the SUVs, where you'll drive them down two tight circular tunnels. Before reaching the end of the second tunnel get out and creep close to another construction area. This is the only spot in which someone should break out the grenade launcher and blow up the two vehicles up ahead, and the enemies surrounding them. There's not a lot of space here so do not drive into the area in the SUVs. If you use explosives, wait for the flames to die out before taking the SUVs through and out the tunnel onto the freeway.

It's now a short drive to Lester's but you will be attacked by another 3 or 4 vehicles. You can either try and outrun them or stop as soon as you see their red circles appear on the minimap, take cover, and shoot it out with them. Drop the SUVs at the warehouse to complete the mission.

GTA 5: Rockstar aware of turbo tuning bug that slows down vehicles

People found a bug in GTA 5 on the PS4 and X-box One that is causing vehicles with turbo tuning to go slower than unmodified.

A number of players have reported the problem, which only seems to affect GTA 5 on PS4 and Xbox One.

Some cars and bikes fitted with turbo tuning at Los Santos Customs end up accelerating slower than those without.

Rockstar has said it's aware of the bug, and is looking into resolving the problem.

"We have received reports about issues with Turbo Tuning upgrades in GTA Online and are currently looking into a fix.

If you prefer to remove turbo from your vehicle until this issue is fixed, you can do so at any Los Santos Customs in-game or on the iFruit app, "said Rockstar Support.

6 fixes to improve GTA Online

Mission Playlists, weapons loadouts and the indestructible volleyball net. How can we improve GTA Online?

I'm a little obsessive about Grand Theft Auto Online. I've just hit Rank 92 after 149 hours and 19 minutes. Real life has become an inconvenience.

Spending all that time in Los Santos I've come across a number of obstacles to maximum criminal efficiency. If a patch taking care of the following was released I'd sure appreciate it, Rockstar. Thanks!

Remember my weapon of choice

We have out loadouts locked down. But every time we step into GTA Online we have to rearrange out weapon wheel because it does not remember preferences. If I'm packing the Combat Shotgun I'm not going to want the sawed-off to take priority.

We can not even arrange the weapons wheel in our own apartments either, for some reason. I get not arming a weapon at home - safety first - but we have to wait until we're outside. According to the data on Rockstar Social Club I've been holding my Bullpup for 16 hours, 46 minutes and 57 seconds in-game. You do not think I want that ready before I step outside my front door?

I'm all about making that loot but I want it in the bank quick-sharp. Using the mobile app takes an age. You have to pull out the phone -> open internet -> Money & Services -> Maze Bank -> deposit -> amount -> are you sure? -> Done -> quit out the app. It's the drag of real life banking. Who thought simulating that was fun?

Just give us a quick deposit button that drops everything we're carrying into the account with one click on the home screen. No one deposits just some of the money they've carrying. No one uses the ATM. Speed and security is of the essence when dealing with my greenbacks, yo.

Speed up loading times

Matchmaking is getting a little better, but the loading times are a drag. Staring at a screen for a couple of minutes at a time when you quit out or finish a job is a real fun-vacuum. And it does that little tease where it looks like you're entering freeroam for a split second with the * dum, dum, dum * sound ... and then it goes back to a load screen. What a pisser!

Fix the front door bugh

When I start a job in my apartment the game places me in front of my man cave and not the front door. What the F, yo? I do not need to put my vinyl collection in alphabetical order, I need to be sticking up punks for mad cheddar.

Ignore Creator Jobs

The Quick Job option is great but can we filter it so it only launches into Rockstar Created and Verified Jobs? Because I really do not need to get sucked into one of those piss-poor self-made jobs where the creator has rigged it so he can take advantage of a glitch-jump and slaughter everyone else on the map. It's not even fun for the person with the upper hand because everyone quits as soon as they realise it's shit.

More weapon choice as a passenger

Can we use bigger weapons when we're riding shotgun in a car? I accept that it does not make sense to break out the Grenade Launcher or Combat MG in a confined space. But only allowing pistols, the minigun and explosives is too limiting. Allowing assault rifles would be a better balance. You can use them from the back of a van or sitting side-saddle in a chopper, so let us tool up in the whip.


More ink space

The problem with previewing tattoos is they appear on different areas of your arm so it looks like you can get an anchor on the bicep and a diamond on the elbow. In reality you can only have one tattoo per bodypart. Now we're looking at the game in high-def, can not we have multiple tattoos on our torso? I want to look like I've been in a Russian prison, not a hipster trying to make a fashion statement.


Mission playlists

We can only jump into one specific Mission from the Jobs bar, but once finished it's back to the random luck of Rockstar's 6 options menu.


Some of us team up online just to take on 4-player co-op Missions - it's one of the best parts of the game. I guess you can not put together a Missions Playlist to stop people grinding them for RP and cash, but that's really our decision. We can set Playlists for Last Team Standing, Deathmatch and Races, but Missions are off the menu. Missions are great, but having us quit out (hello again, tedious loading screen) select another job we want and then launch it is just stubborn design.

Beautiful snow day in Los Santos

GTA 5: The graffiti of Los Santos

One documentary maker has captured the graffiti of Los Santos and turned it into a short film showcasing the art.

Like every other aspect of GTA 5 on PS4 and Xbox One, the graffiti around the city, beach, pier and pretty much everywhere else has had a makeover.

This short film by AbsolutePab captures the art, adds music by Tom Holmes and the audio of a late 90's documentry The War on Grafitti in LA

Actor who plays Franklin in GTA 5 confirms story DLC is still alive

DLC continuing the adventures of Franklin, Michael and Trevor was confirmed by Rockstar around this time last year, and originally promised in 2014.

Since then Rockstar has been quiet as the priority has been on regular updates for GTA Online, the new-gen versions of GTA 5 and Heists, which are due early next year.

In an interview with Jack Thriller, rapper and actor Fonteno confirms that one of his current projects is working on the DLC for GTA 5 "and that's first on my list to finish that up".

Maybe the DLC will feature the casino etc etc.

PC specs for GTA 5 to be revealed next week

The required specs of the PC version of GTA 5 will be revealed next week, Rockstar has promised.

As part of the same Q & A we covered earlier, Rockstar talked a tiny bit about the upcoming PC version of GTA 5.

Answering a fan question about that version, Rockstar said, "We're presently in the final stages of development on the PC version of Grand Theft Auto V and hope to have confirmed official system requirements to share soon here at the Newswire.

"Please stay tuned for that to be announced in the coming week. Thank you and we're very excited to bring GTAV to the PC gaming community! "

GTA 5 arrives January 27 on PC.

Recreated "The Star Wars: The Force Awakens" trailer in GTA 5

The new Star Wars trailer in the GTA, and it is not that good, but still interesting.
Although you might have seen this trailer recreated in every game possible, watching one with the GTA flavour is still different enough. The folks at YouTube channel Powerlight-13 are the ones behind this trailer / parody.

It's not a huge undertaking though and you'll know why when you watch it. The bit with the Lightsaber is the best one.

GTA gameplay video

As you guys know, GTA V is coming on PC in early 2015, and I think, that it is a great opportunity to start making your videos on YouTube with GTA gameplay. So I think, that you all might need the screen recorder. Here is an app, that you can use for recording your screen. It is not hard to create an account in YouTube, so don`t wait! Right after GTA V is out on PC start playing and recording. Waiting for your videos.

Download screen recorder

GTA V landscapes, Snapmatic Photography from GTA V on PS4 & Xbox One

The Snapmatic photogs masterfully cataloging life in Los Santos and Blaine County continue to wow us with their work on these new platforms. Check out a new gallery below featuring some of our favorite shots, from veterans and newcomers alike.

GTA Online Heists: New Trailer

GTA Online Heists are coming early in 2015 - check out the new trailer for the four-player co-op mode for Grand Theft Auto Online that allows players to plan, prepare and execute multi-tiered Heists across Los Santos and Blaine County. These will require tight communication and coordination, with players taking on specified roles at each point to accomplish multiple objectives on the way to each Heist's epic finale. Featuring new gameplay, new vehicles, new weapons, new clothing and much more.

Asked & Answered: GTAV First Person Experience, Online Heists and Much More

Since the time since Grand Theft Auto V's release on new generation platforms, we've received lots of questions from the community about what is in store for the future, including the highly anticipated launch of Online Heists, which was discussed in yesterday's IGN interview. Today, we've got a special Asked & Answered that addresses this and many other frequently asked questions we've seen recently. If you've got a question for us, as always, feel free to hit us up at mouthoff@rockstargames.com and we'll do our best to provide you an answer if we can - and maybe even address your question in the future here at the Newswire.

"What is the point of Shark Cards, apart from to make you greedy bastards lots of money?" - Tim (via Mouthoff)

The reason Rockstar included optional in-game currency in Grand Theft Auto Online, rather than directly selling DLC, was because it was the only way that they could distribute DLC without dividing the player base each time we brought out a new content pack, which would destroy the online community very quickly by splitting players up. Thanks to Shark Cards, Rockstar has been able to give away every piece of DLC so far for free in order to keep the community whole and give people options as to whether they want to earn new content by playing the game, buy new content with Shark Cards or simply do not get new content and still keep playing the game.

“What is the GTA Online Heist official release date?” - @iCrazyTeddy
“Why are Heists taking so long?” – Donny (via Mouthoff)

Rockstar games aren’t ready to give an official release date yet, but they are confident they will be ready early in 2015. As you may have read on IGN, Heists were a much bigger challenge to create than we had originally anticipated. Early versions were simply not good enough and had to be scrapped more than once as we honed in on how we thought they should work. We’re happy to say that the pack we are now finalizing is something we are excited by and eager to release as soon as it is ready. We, as a company, have always been about trying to make something that is good rather than hitting a date. We apologize when this gets frustrating but firmly believe that rushing out second-rate content does not do anyone any favors. Hopefully you agree that yesterday’s new Trailer is a sign that Heists are shaping up nicely, but we still need some time to fine tune them. Because we need a little time to get Heists right, we are going to give you a small Christmas gift to keep you entertained until we are done with them.
In the meantime, here are a couple of cool new screenshots to whet your appetite…

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Updated for iOS and Now Available for Android and Amazon Devices

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars has just been updated for iOS devices and for the first time ever is now available for Android and Amazon Kindle Fire users as well.

This updated version features new highly customizable touchscreen controls, physical controller support, plus high resolution widescreen display on supported devices, as well as full Retina Display resolution on iOS.

Chinatown Wars works universally across all your supported phones, tablets and devices, including the Google Nexus Player and Amazon Fire TV. Rockstar has also upgraded all original iOS versions with the same universal capability, so everyone can enjoy the update regardless of which version they originally purchased.

The GTA Online Festive Surprise

It is Christmas! And yeah, even in Los Santos.

Play Grand Theft Auto Online this holiday season for a Festive Surprise.

There are a lot of free Christmas gears and masks
Now you can add some merriment to your mayhem with a slew of holiday pajamas, 'ugly' Christmas sweaters from Grandma, hats, masks and more are now all available absolutely free to add to your inventory and wear now through Monday January 5th. Than all Christmas atmosphere will just start fading away...