Rockstar Games has rolled out a new set of cars for GTA Online‘s ‘A Safehouse in the Hills’ update, and the community’s reaction is, to put it mildly, euphoric, irritating, and a considerable number of people asking for updates on GTA 6. With this update, three new vehicles are introduced: The super-modern Pfister X-treme (Super class), the nostalgic Übermacht Sentinel XS4 (Sedan), and the classic Grotti GT750 (Sports Classic). In addition, if you have the GTA+ subscription, you will be the first one to access the Vapid FMJ MK V (Super). This is the most important news—new cars for a game that is more than ten years old. But as always, the good thing continues with the comments.
Rockstar tweets a picture of new cars, and replies go crazy immediately. The conversation is like an insight into the minds of gamers in 2024. While some players just hate the whole thing. ‘REKT 🐾 NEKO’ captured that feeling and expressed it, saying: “the futuristic Pfister seems to be from 2045, while the Grotti is a police drama getaway car.” Great job! ‘coinedCharms’ also tried to find out where the car was coming from and if the Pfister X-treme’s design had anything to do with sci-fi. And that’s the manner the community is involved, the enthusiasts who are always there to upgrade their next digital ride.
But… oh my, then it sinks down. The sheer number of comments that are completely unrelated is staggering. It’s almost like the Twitter post triggered the discussion. A big, bright red, ‘Gripe About GTA 6’ button. User ‘adam_moradi’ put forth a universally shared opinion: “Broooooo enough with the hills and the online or plus or minus! Just please give us more about GTA 6!” This was not a rare opinion. ‘ShoresyChirpin’ maintained, “Don’t post anything on social media until the day that the pre-order of GTA 6 is available.” And ‘nanotuning3’ simply inquired in Spanish, “Cuando vais a hablar y a enseñar cosas de GTA VI?” which translates to “When are you going to talk and show things about GTA VI?” It’s very clear: a considerable portion of the gamer community has become disinterested in GTA Online updates and has instead been waiting for the next big thing.
The hype surrounding the GTA 6 is by no means the sole reason for the indifference. The update did, in fact, attract some criticisms that, while seeming to come from a minority of players, are very much valid. The issue of early access to the GTA+ members has been a nuisance for many. ‘FlamestheBeast’ wrote: “F y’all for locking quality of life features behind gta+. I’m actually so worried for how bad it’s gonna be in gta 6.” This is certainly a concern about potential future licensing issues. Another user ‘ToastLarge’ pointed out a distribution problem: “More cars need Imani armor and/or hsw upgrades, super disappointing to only only the fmj get an upgrade.” Thus, for hardcore players who are concerned about game balance, this drop seems a bit short. Then ‘JDBuck96′ came through with the super succinct and strong critique: “Stop with the dripfeed BS ffs.” The “dripfeed” rollout strategy of gradually releasing new content in small doses has been a source of discontent for a long time in the GTA Online community.
Despite the complaints and criticisms, the replies still included some funny and odd requests that showcased the range of players’ fancies. ‘Primetime TB’ recommended that Rockstar “should place a bong or a joint in the mansion for the role play to be more lifelike,” which is indeed a fair claim for a game that revolves around crimes. ‘0xYoob’ was really upset about the possibility that the character of Tommy Vercetti might not be able to come back in GTA6. And ‘T22Jarrod’ made a fervent request for single-player DLC, arguing that “atleast ⅓ gamers & loyal fans would love to buy sp story mode DLCs.” This has been a debate ever since the first GTA Online heist dropped.
While the comments section was rife with fighting, it was not violent to the extent of the spat between ‘InsanityLol’ and ‘Dillon’ that ended with a block and a link to what looks like a stress ball. That is just typical Twitter stuff, really. ‘Salah Jawa’ is certainly one to feel sympathy for as he had just lost his fifty-car garage after the last update and is now desperately seeking help in the replies. That is THE GTA Online experience—the bugs and all.
So in light of all that chaos, what is one to make of the PlayStation and Xbox platforms?
