Rockstar Games is promoting the new island location in Grand Theft Auto Online as the biggest GTA Online adventure ever. There's a lot of new content coming in this massive update, but the studio is promoting the new Cayo Perico location as a Heist. So, will the island be accessible outside of Heists too?
A lot of the details on the Cayo Perico Heist are pretty vague. So far, Rockstar has said the island is a new approach to Heists in GTA Online, and that the Cayo Perico Heist can be performed solo or with up to three other players. Fans are incredibly hyped about the new location, even if a lot of the details are being kept secret for now. Pulling off a Heist on a luxurious private island is pretty enticing, and the update promises lots of cool new features.
So far, it's not completely clear if Cayo Perico will be accessible outside of Heists. Rockstar Games is definitely promoting the island as a new GTA Online Heist, but that doesn't necessarily mean it won't be accessible otherwise. So far, the trailer for the new island location doesn't reveal too much, other than some aerial shots of Cayo Perico and a new submarine HQ. Even though Cayo Perico is being promoted as a Heist right now, there's plenty of reasons to think it'll be accessible outside of Heists in GTA Online too.
Why Cayo Perico Will Be Accessible Outside Of Heists
The biggest reason Cayo Perico will most likely be accessible outside of Heists in GTA Online is because of all the new content that comes along with it. New vehicles, weapons, and over 100 songs and guest DJs are coming along with the new GTA Online update. And since Rockstar has said Cayo Perico is a "brand-new approach to Heist design," it's reasonable to assume the new GTA Online location may not even be locked behind the Heist initially.
Even so, GTA Online players may have to complete the Cayo Perico Heist in order to gain access to everything the island has to offer. This could mean the area won't be fully accessible until after the Heist is completed. However, with a new area this big, it seems strange to lock Cayo Perico behind something like a Heist. Given the Cayo Perico Heist can be performed solo, though, it's another reason to assume the new island will be accessible outside of Heists.
Based on the direction of GTA Online, it seems like the new island map location won't be completely locked behind Heists. Details are still a little scarce though, so hopefully Rockstar will reveal new information soon. The Cayo Perico Heist is coming to GTA Online on December 15th.
[UPDATED 15/12/2020: The Cayo Perico Heist has gone live in GTA Online and, unfortunately, it is NOT available during GTA Online's free roam mode.]