Rockstar Games, through an update, announced a big change for the players of GTA Online. The Slasher mode is a thing of the past but the experience was horrible and exciting at the same time. The Ramius submarine is going to be the venue for the ultimate experience of horror this time, where the players will fight at over a dozen close quarters and will have to avoid becoming fish food while the dark sea, made up of multiple decks, is where they are going to roam. To encourage even more participation, from October 16 to 22, the players of the Featured Series will get double GTA$ and RP, and this could not be a better time for players to get involved in the action that is not only spooky but also profitable.
Now, what is Slasher mode, precisely? To sum up, it is a survival horror scenario in which the slasher character moves around and located others in the dark. The dark, damp, underwater setting is going to trigger the maximum panic among the players through its narrow hallways, the absence of any light and constantly the dread of drowning if you take a wrong move. It is the typical GTA Online disorder but paired with the extra rush that comes from being submerged with a killer.
The overall reaction of the community to this announcement has been nothing less than… interesting. Very few players are actually happy with the submarine slasher idea, but the comments section quickly fell into a debate that has for years echoed the standard Rockstar Games tweet experience – and that is the outcry for GTA 6.
“Pre Order GTA 6 Pre Order GTA 6 Pre Order GTA 6 please open it soon,” lamented one user while another just asked for “gta 6 trailer 3 plz.” It has developed into a strange ritual whereby nothing announced by Rockstar would not be followed up by requests for GTA 6. It is like clockwork, man.
The craving, however, is not for GTA 6 only. The fans of Red Dead Redemption 2 also came out and made their presence felt, many commenting and asking for a next-gen update. “New Gen update for RDR2 pleeeeease!” was one comment and another one sarcastically said, “Rdr2 60 fps? 2038?” Ouch, that one might have hurt the feelings over at the Rockstar headquarters.
Some players are trying to be funny and at the same time their requests are creative. “We want UNDEAD NIGHTMARE 2 and a new MIDNIGHT CLUB game set in Japan,” one user posted, thus showing that the Rockstar fanbase has diverse tastes in games not just limited to Grand Theft Auto. At the same time, the community of Red Dead Online players tried their luck by posting comments like “Release more content for Reddead Players! Ridiculous how you just left players Stranded.”
Discussion even about the choice of words was noticed in the responses. A user pointed out, “Pitch – dark. Ain’t it pitch-black?” implying that even the choice of words does not go unnoticed by the devoted Rockstar audience. Another user questioned, “What did this have to do with stealing cars? What even is this game anymore?” which, to be honest… is a fair point. GTA Online has now morphed into a weird platform that is at once a crime simulator, horror game, military shooter and, now, apparently, submarine explorer.
There was no better time for the Slasher mode to return than Halloween when scary games are in high demand. The submarine location is certainly very clever, and it does create the claustrophobic environment that makes horror games so effective. The careful combination of the slasher not catching you, while at the same time not drowning, makes the whole scenario more involved than what would otherwise have been a simple game of hide-and-seek.
And now let’s talk about the double rewards – the 2X GTA$ and RP from October 16-22 are a strong magnet that will draw both pro players and newbies alike to the mode. In a game where grinding often feels like a second job, these bonus periods are always welcomed. It’s Rockstar’s way of keeping the player base active while they… you know, work on whatever comes next.
The melee combat on the submarine is going to be extremely intense. In open maps, you can see threats from a distance but the Ramius submarine scenario forces players into close quarters where encounters take place abruptly and violently. It’s the type of gameplay that raises your heart rate, especially if you’re the last survivor trying to outsmart the slasher.
It is, indeed, remarkable that Rockstar keeps on supporting GTA Online with such artistic updates even while the expectation for the next installment is at its peak. The comments may be filled with cries for GTA 6, but there is still a little community that is happy about the current situation. One user, referring to player counts, said: the game is “far from dead buddy” with fair numbers on different platforms.
The submarine slasher is the best embodiment of the evolving forces of GTA Online – merely taking familiar ideas, and adding the trendy Rockstar twist to them. It is not just another horror mode; it is horror mode on a submarine along with GTA’s typical gameplay and humor. Where can you go from stealing supercars to surviving slasher in underwater close quarters combat, then all the way back to the luxury penthouse in Los Santos?
Players looking for a new experience can go to the Featured Series for a super refreshing change of pace. The limited-time double rewards that can be earned create the urgency that keeps multiplayer games alive. Let’s not kid ourselves – besides the pleasure of outsmarting a slasher in the dark confines of a submarine, there is a particularly pleasant feeling to it and then heading to your penthouse in Los Santos.
The gaming community will continue to wait (somehow patiently) for the new projects from Rockstar and in the meanwhile they will enjoy updates like the submarine slasher mode, which helps to bridge the gap. They make it clear that developers have not turned their backs on the current game even while working on the future ones. And for those who simply want to have some fun with the monsters under the sea and also get to collect some extra cash, the Featured Series of the week is just the right fit.
So if you are up for something new in Los Santos this week maybe you better not do the regular heists and car meets but rather dive into the scary depths of the Ramius submarine. Just do not forget to watch your back- and your oxygen levels.
