PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S have just received a GTA Online Halloween-themed update from Rockstar Games and player reactions once again mixed—positive to negative in the extreme case that resemble Oppressor MK II crashes all over the place. The big news is that the GTA+ subscribers can get for free a Declasse Weaponized Tampa which is used to “clear a path through the chaos” in Los Santos. Moreover, during the month of October, you will get four times the normal amount of GTA$ and RP in certain Halloween modes. This sounds pretty good, right? But, let’s put it this way, the players’ reactions were very intense.
To put it differently, Rockstar is making an effort to create the Halloween atmosphere among the subscribers by giving out the Weaponized Tampa. It’s basically a gun-mounted monster truck which is perfectly in line with the spookiness theme and the entire Tampa giveaway matches the Halloween spirit. Additionally, the 4X Halloween mode bonuses are nothing less than huge cash and RP possibilities for all grind-oriented players this month. Nevertheless, going through the replies to the tweet reveals a not-so-very-impressed community.
A player by the name of Stefan Meyer as if marked with a “no” bluntly pronounced “This Month is really bad for gta+, not worth the money” which is a very painful statement indeed. Chris Zero, another player, considered the situation as “NGL, pretty weak month. I’ve cancelled mine after this announcement”. The picture painted here is that the Halloween offerings are not very attractive even to the subscribers. But then you have people like Eva who have the contrary view and responded “I’ll clear the if you can handle my wild side 👀”, so it looks like there are still some having fun.
GTA+ service has always been under scrutiny, but the situation with this Halloween update has made the divide clearer. While some players appreciate the free stuff and bonuses, others are still debating the value issue. Pilnut, for example, very specifically expressed his disappointment over “no 4X AP Arena Wars” which indicates that players have very high expectations concerning these monthly updates.
And then, there is this firm of that thing… happening in the replies. You know the drama that comes with GTA Online—players quickly turn the conversation into demands for GTA 6, complaints about god mode glitches, and random comments in Spanish that say things like “This isn’t the GTA 6 trailer? I don’t want it!” One guy, Osiris, who is evidently fed up went on an ALL CAPS rant about god mode glitches ruining lobbies. Eloquent? Maybe so. But he certainly is voicing the pain of many, indeed.
The questions raised from the replies keep coming in which makes it seem like this Halloween update has become a signpost for bigger complaints about Rockstar’s treatment of their customers. One user Pansexual_Pratt remarked: “Just cancel online. You’d make more money through new GTA games, instead of milking the absolute crap out of GTA 5 online. This is ACTUAL ADVICE. PLEASE LISTEN Rockstar!” And they are not alone—many replies are calling for story mode DLCs, Undead Nightmare 2, or just anything that isn’t more GTA Online content.
However, there are still players trying to figure out the update. User GristleBoo513 merely asked “How get weaponized Tampa?” while SadBoiRich1 wondered “When does the ghost exposed event start???” So, it seems, that in the midst of complaining and demanding new games, there are still people who want to reap the benefits of the Halloween content that Rockstar actually provided.
The diverse reactions reflect the hard-to-please attitude of Rockstar—the company has built an immensely popular online ecosystem that some players are crazy about, while others are getting increasingly impatient for the next thing. The Halloween update itself was nothing extraordinary? The Weaponized Tampa is a fun vehicle, if that’s what you like, and 4X bonuses are always welcome for grinding. But the community is beginning to divide into those who are still strongly involved in GTA Online and those who think it is only a matter of time before the next big thing.
And there is also the always controversial subscription model—was it worth it for these monthly perks? Some players are clearly saying “not worth” by canceling their subscription. Others, however, appear to be satisfied with the value. In fact, this is a continuous battle between the Rockstar side that wants to keep making money from their current “cash cow” and the players calling for something new and fresh. The Halloween update has somehow become the focal point for all these frustrations and expectations, which is kind of crazy when you think about it.
Ultimately, it does not matter whether players hate or love Halloween offerings by Rockstar—they are still there. The Weaponized Tampa is free for GTA+ subscribers, the 4X bonuses are given on Halloween modes for the entire month of October, and Los Santos is being set up for Halloween. But the reactions to this update tell a larger story about a player community that is increasingly divided with respect to the future of Grand Theft Auto. Some players just want to make the most of their monster truck and the Halloween chaos, while others keep checking their calendars to see when that long-awaited GTA 6 announcement is going to come. The Halloween update is here, reactions are mixed, and the already-called-for-a-strengthening-drink community management team of Rockstar is probably going through a considerable amount of drinks after reading those replies.
PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S have just received a GTA Online Halloween-themed update from Rockstar Games and player reactions once again mixed—positive to negative in the extreme case that resemble Oppressor MK II crashes all over the place. The big news is that the GTA+ subscribers can get for free a Declasse Weaponized Tampa which is used to “clear a path through the chaos” in Los Santos. Moreover, during the month of October, you will get four times the normal amount of GTA$ and RP in certain Halloween modes. This sounds pretty good, right? But, let’s put it this way, the players’ reactions were very intense.
