Rockstar Games has issued a new weekly challenge for Grand Theft Auto Online players, and it’s an easy one with somewhat reasonable rewards. Survive the four waves in any Survival mode without dying, and you will be given the Gray Jumping Spider Mask and GTA$200,000 in rewards. Rockstar suggests the plan to ‘give your friends and enemies the jump-scare of a lifetime.’ The task is quite easy, but the chaotic environment of GTA Online makes it hard to survive for four waves especially when others or tough NPCs are after you.
The news broke via the Rockstar Games official Twitter page and was met with the same usual mix of people expressing excitement and asking about GTA 6. This is almost the new normal for any Rockstar post these days. One user, CreviceShrapnel, even thanked the company for the reward and said, ‘That mask looks pretty awesome, unlike most of them…’ Thus, at least one gamer is not being completely overcome by the hoo-ha surrounding the next chapter in the saga!
But before long, the responses section was dragged down again to the very familiar uproar. Player Ryan (MarsResident027) made the statement, ‘I want GTA6 not this.’ Another one, Gerard Mor, mocked the challenge by saying, ‘Survive four weeks for our third GTA 6 trailer announcement.😂😂’ This goes to show that despite Rockstar’s support of the long-standing online juggernaut, a large part of the player community is still fixated on one thing only. One particularly revealing remark made by The Red Guy highlighted the slow passage of time in the gaming world: ‘GTA 5 came out, I met a girl got married bought a house and a dog and had a kid GTA 6 is still not out.’ Ouch! That one hits right in the gut, doesn’t it?
Meanwhile, there were other people who were having their own discussions in the replies. Halloween filter in the game was one of the main topics, and one user, Alex (iShoTz), voiced his opinion that the graphics have dropped to a ‘PS2‘ level because of that and that a ‘PS2’ level only during Halloween would be the right time for it. Another player, M3TALGAM3R, gave a straightforward piece of advice: ‘Then go play something else for 2 weeks. Problem solved.’ This kind of interaction is the typical one among gamers.
There was even an Arabic conversation happening that probably referred to discussions about a potential Max Payne remake. A user, YSGR-35, commented ‘The dream is a Max Payne remake,’ and another one, Hussein (shad_dad0), replied ‘Liar, me and you just want Max Payne 😂’. Thus the Rockstar community has various wants, from a new GTA to remaking the old classics.
What could be the reason for the introduction of this challenge? In GTA Online, survival modes are combat scenarios of waves in which you and your team (or just you if you are really that brave) are supposed to hold out against the increasingly powerful enemies. Surviving four waves without being killed requires an excellent strategy, good hiding place, and maybe a little luck. The reward of $200,000 is a pretty good amount for a quite fast task and the Gray Jumping Spider Mask is a rare cosmetic to increase your collection. Perfect for scaring your friends during heist setup or just creating some mayhem in freemode.
It is very interesting to see that Rockstar is still providing weekly updates for a game that is older than ten years. This not only keeps the community active but also every player has a reason to log in every week even though the gigantic shadow of GTA 6 is still there. To the players who are still stuck in the Los Santos grind like xetyres who called the situation ‘Great week to grind and have fun plus making million,’ it is like these challenges are becoming part of their routine.
However, it is really hard not to mention the elephant in the room or in this case the lack of a sequel. The unending demand for GTA 6 news under every response to Rockstar’s tweet has actually become a meme. It certainly says a lot about the future of the game but at the same time it implies that the players are a bit tired of the current title. Rockstar is in an awkward spot trying to hold onto the live-service golden goose while the public is impatiently waiting for the next big thing.
Ultimately, if you are a player of GTA Online, the challenge this week is a wonderful chance to earn quick cash and get a spooky mask. Just try to ignore the hundreds of trailers that seem to be begging for the next installment while you are shooting enemies in survival mode. It’s just another week in the world of Rockstar Games where the present is actively supported but the future is what everyone is talking about. So, gear up with your best guns, find a nice hiding spot, and don’t get killed for four waves. The spider mask is waiting for you!
