Rockstar's latest Grand Theft Auto Online weekly update is giving away big bonuses for playing Survival games and teases an upcoming summer update. Last week, GTA Online had several Fourth of July-themed boosts and discounts, so the seasonal summer fun appears to be far from over.
There have been several other events and updates that have applied various boosts and discounts to different game modes and missions in 2020, so that is nothing out of the ordinary. The summer update, however, could prove to be far more interesting. The last summertime update of its kind followed the wildly popular internet culture phenomenon of alien gang wars (in which opposing "gangs" of purple and green aliens transformed the game's free roam lobbies into chaotic warfare). Accordingly, GTA Online's 2020 summer update added a UFO and an accompanying base, but those assets have not yet been used at the time of writing.
Thursday, Rockstar announced the latest GTA Online event, which centers around the Survival game mode. From July 8 - 19, all Survival games will be rewarding twice the usual cash and RP. Additionally, Rockstar is adding seven new Survival maps, and players will automatically get a free $100,000 for competing in them within 72 hours of playing. As for the discounts, they include 40% off of garages (of all sizes), 30% off the V-65 Molotok fighter jet, 40% off the Western Cargobob, and 40% off the Vapid Slamtruck stunt vehicle.
Sandwiched between other announcements further down is a teaser about the upcoming summer update, which reads, "GTA Online's forthcoming summer update includes the Los Santos Car Meet, the beating heart of car culture in Southern San Andreas." Unfortunately, the summer update section does not provide any further information regarding the event, outside of telling players to keep an eye out for future news.
Other news from this announcement include the modified Vapid Retinue Mk II sports car being the podium prize in the Diamond Casino, and the Sunset Tint Oversize Shades being available for completing Simeon's delivery missions. The discounts and boosts are always nice to have, but the sneak peak at the summer update feels like the most interesting section. Last year's summer update was announced in late July, and officially released about two weeks later in mid-August, so it is possible that a full announcement comes in the next couple of weeks.
Cars have played a huge role in Grand Theft Auto Online's culture, from Benny's Original Motor Works being the crux of several missions and events, to becoming one of the most profitable cargo missions in the game. Unfortunately, due to griefers and the terror known as the Oppressor Mk II, driving most cars that do not have armor or some other built in survival gimmick is pretty much unviable. So, it would be nice for Rockstar to give some shine to some of the truly cool and unique cars that have otherwise been sidelined due to the GTA Online meta.
Grand Theft Auto Online is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Source: Rockstar