GTA5
Latest
'GTA V' online play suffers outage following Epic Games Store giveaway
'GTA V' and the Rockstar Games Launcher are facing online outages due to a crush of users, likely stemming from Epic's recent giveaway.
Rockstar doles out freebies to 'GTA Online' and 'Red Dead Online' players
Rockstar's multiplayer games apparently had a banner holiday, and the company is using that as an excuse to hand out goodies to players (and, conveniently, give them a reason to keep playing). GTA Online gamers will get $1 million in virtual currency if they play before February 5th, and can receive another $1 million more if they sign on between February 6th and February 12th. Red Dead Online players, meanwhile, can pick up a "Gunslinger's Cache" with guns and ammo by February 3rd, or a "Bounty Hunter's Kit" (with a license and gear) between February 4th and February 10th.
Transforming vehicles and aerial dogfights are coming to 'GTA Online'
GTA Online manages to do more than hang on to its playerbase, despite its source game Grand Theft Auto V coming out four years ago. The continual flow of bonus content every other month net studio Rockstar Games over $400 million in Q2 2017. GTA Online has more in store for the next DLC set to release later this month includes races with transforming vehicles, a marked-for-death mode and aerial dogfights.
Four years on, 'GTA Online' is still a money-spinner
Almost four years down the line, GTA V is still drawing big crowds. And players are dropping a lot of dollar on the game's ballistic online mode. That cash is filling up the safes at Take-Two Interactive. The distributor announced on Wednesday that the latest instalment in the GTA franchise was key to it banking $418.2 million in net revenue over the past three months -- a 34 percent spike compared to last year.
'GTA Online' update brings new multiplayer mode and patriotic swag
Rockstar's new update for Grand Theft Auto Online is (mostly) all about Independence Day, a holiday Americans will be celebrating through the weekend and, some, until Tuesday. The goods, which are now live, include an adversary mode dubbed "Dawn Raid," where two teams of up to six people can parachute into a combat zone and battle it out to find hidden packages. And, since this is a 4th of July-themed update after all, you'll also get a bunch of patriotic Stars and Stripes swag, including weapons and apparel for your avatar.
Three years later, 'Grand Theft Auto V' hits 75 million shipped
Grand Theft Auto V launched over three years ago, yet it's still a big money-maker, proving that — at least in some small way — crime does pay. The popular open-world action game has now shipped 75 million copies, publisher Take-Two Interactive revealed today during an earnings call.
Game studios go all-out with Halloween events and sales
Game developers thrive on seasonal events, and that's truer than ever this Halloween. It's not just themed skins and game modes, although there are plenty of those -- there are some serious bargains to be had, whether you're a Steam veteran or just getting into virtual reality. Even PlayStation Now has some Halloween goodies. We've rounded up some of the spookier events and sales to make sure you don't miss out.
'Grand Theft Auto 5' outsold almost every game in January
Rockstar Games is reaping the rewards of keeping GTA Online fresh with things like heist missions and holiday-themed events for these past few years. Grand Theft Auto 5 was the number two selling game last month amid slowing console hardware sales, a bizarre fact considering it debuted almost two-and-a-half years ago. September 2013, to be exact. Of course, that evergreen gateway to GTA Online's multiplayer has also benefitted from a staggered release starting on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, later coming to PC and then PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Regardless, how crazy this is wasn't lost on the NPD Group's David Riley:
'GTA Online' Freemode update adds wild events next week
Grand Theft Auto Online's next update adds a series of new gameplay challenges called Freemode Events, and it's due out on September 15th across PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Freemode Events are randomly triggered modes integrated into the Online world -- while in Freemode, an event can begin at any time and players can customize which events they want see. New Events include Hunt the Beast, where one player turns into a werewolf and the remaining team hunts him or her down, and King of the Castle, where players fight to control and defend a designated structure. Another mode, Penned In, appears to be a derby battle with all cars trapped in a fairly small area.
A few 'GTA V' mods are installing malware on PCs
While you've been busy enjoying guns that fire cars, piloting flying saucers or swimming 'round a flooded Los Santos thanks to mods for the PC version of GTA V something darker's lurked beneath the surface. GTAForums user aboutseven noticed that a C# compiler was running in the background on his or her computer and traced it back to a file dubbed "Fade.exe." Upon further inspection she or he spotted that it was using internet access. Turns out it was a keylogger. Process of elimination deduced that "Noclip," which allows you to examine the insides of objects freely, and "Angry Planes," which spawns incredibly, well, angry, planes that attack you with kamikaze-like fury, were the culprits behind the malware infection.
Control the 'GTA V' cellphone with an iPhone, Arduino and a hack
Grand Theft Auto V has a few mobile apps of its own, but one enterprising modder has taken the idea to its natural conclusion: an application that lets you control the in-game cellphone with an iPhone. With the application you can scroll through text messages on-screen, peep your current list of objectives and, among other things, even control the in-game phone's camera. The YouTube video's description (spotted by former Joystiq'r Dave Hinkle) does't offer much by way of details other than it's running on an Arduino Leonardo with an Ethernet shield connected to a PC, sadly.
The 'Grand Theft Auto V' Rockstar Editor is exclusive to PC
Anyone who plays Grand Theft Auto V on PC will get a special treat when the game launches tomorrow, April 14. The Rockstar Editor is exclusive to the PC version of GTAV, offering tools that allow players to cut up in-game shots, create unique scenes with hand-selected characters, animals and physics, and basically mess around even more in sunny Los Santos. We're talking about a movie editor here, not a level editor, meaning players will be able to really rev up their creative engines. Imagine re-creating Furious 7, for example -- or maybe even Furious 8 (Now with 150 percent more bald dudes!). Take a look at the sweet editing suite coming to GTAV on PC in the new trailer below.
The PC version of 'Grand Theft Auto V' is delayed... again
Bad news, highway high-jackers: Grand Theft Auto V on PC has been delayed for a second time. It's now due out on April 14, pushed back from a previous release date of March 24. The PC version's original release date was January 27, nearly a month ago. Rockstar, the developer of the Grand Theft Auto series, says it's sorry for the (extra) delay: "Our apologies to PC gamers worldwide who have been counting down the days until the launch of the game, but a bit more time is needed to ensure that the game is as polished as possible, and to make certain that both Heists and the GTA Online experience are ready to roll out on day one for PC."
Elders wait for traffic, play Grand Theft Auto 5
The Fine Brothers offered another React Gaming video, but unlike the youthful ones in the past, this one features senior citizens taking Grand Theft Auto 5 out for a spin. The charming video shows the elderly folks stealing cars, shooting civilians and above all else, obeying traffic signals. Grand Theft Auto 5's PC version will launch on March 24. The channel's previous reaction videos included teens playing Mario Kart 64, commenting on the Game Boy as well as just plain sucking at Mega Man. Another video features Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams discussing the absurdness of Nintendo's NES. Now that The Fine Brothers delved into senior players reacting to video games, we don't know if these videos make us feel overly young or old. [Image: Rockstar Games]
Grand Theft Auto 5 pre-orders go live with free game offer
Pre-order the digital version of Grand Theft Auto 5 for PC via Rockstar starting today and get some free goodies – GTA$500,000 to spend in the game's Story Mode and GTA$500,000 to spend in Grand Theft Auto Online. Plus, through February 1, get an extra GTA$300,000 for Online, plus a free game from a list including Max Payne 3, LA Noire, Bully, and Grand Theft Auto 4, 3, San Andreas, Vice City and Liberty City. Here's how pre-orders and that free-game deal work out: "Upon checkout, a non-refundable 15 percent deposit will be charged and the free game code will be immediately provided. Once Grand Theft Auto 5 is released, the remaining amount will be charged and the activation code for Grand Theft Auto 5 on PC will be provided via email." Grand Theft Auto 5 is due out on PC on March 24, a delay from its initial January release date. See PC requirements here. [Image: Take-Two]
GTA5 tops PS4 digital sales charts for December
Gamers who found a PlayStation 4 under their Christmas trees last month very quickly turned their holiday cheer into murderous bloodshed, as Sony revealed that Rockstar's remastered port of Grand Theft Auto 5 ranked as the PlayStation 4's most popular digital purchase in the month of December. GTA 5 beat out Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition, Battlefield 4, and The Walking Dead: Season Two to claim the platform's top digital sales spot last month. Digital versions of Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare ranked as the PlayStation 3's best digital sellers in December, while Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition and Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment headed up the PS Vita charts. December was also a big month for classic RPGs. Konami's recently reissued Suikoden 2 took top honors in Sony's PS Classics sales chart last month, leading over the original Suikoden and Square Enix's Final Fantasy 7. [Image: Rockstar]
Grand Theft Auto 5 PC due on March 24, rig requirements
Grand Theft Auto 5 is due out for PC on March 24, Rockstar announced today in a blog post. The PC edition was originally scheduled to drop on January 27. "Our apologies for the slight shift in the date but the game requires a few extra weeks of testing and polish to make it as good as can be," Rockstar writes. "Moving a release date is never a decision we take lightly and is a choice we make only when we know it is in the best interests of the game and our fans. Thanks everyone for your understanding and we assure you these few extra weeks will be worth it when the game does arrive in March." Rockstar promises the PC version will run at 1080p and 60fps, with up to 4K resolution and support for three monitors, including Nvidia 3D Vision. Minimum PC requirements include a quad-core processor, 4GB memory and 65GB hard drive space. Recommended specs include an i5 processor, 8GB memory and 65GB hard drive space. See the full system requirements below. Grand Theft Auto Online for PC supports up to 30 players and will launch – with Heists – alongside Grand Theft Auto 5 on March 24.
Xbox countdown sale wraps today
Xbox wraps up its daily deals leading into the new year today, featuring add-ons like the Dead Rising 3 season pass and Red Dead Redemption's super excellent Undead Nightmare Collection. There's also BioShock Infinite's Burial at Sea's two episodes at about $5 apiece. There's also been a slew of sales on Xbox One and Xbox 360 games this week. The deep discounts for Xbox One owners include the worthwhile Alien: Isolation, along with Telltale Games goodies like Tales from the Borderlands and Game of Thrones at $2.50 apiece. Worth a browse if you're planning on staying in tonight.
Rockstar extends GTA Online's Christmas gift window due to XBL, PSN outage
If you had trouble opening your Christmas Day inventory gifts in Grand Theft Auto Online, you weren't alone. Between apparent DDoS attacks and the likely holiday rush of player traffic, Xbox Live and PlayStation Network have suffered connectivity issues over the past few days. Rockstar Games is no Grinch however – in recognition of the downtime seen with online services, the developer is extending its Christmas day gift-giving streak "for the time being." Rockstar's initial press release specified that a seasonal tree for GTA Online apartments is among its Christmas Day bundle, but it also encouraged players to check their inventory for "a few extra gifts." The festivities will continue on for New Year's, offering firework launchers to help welcome 2015, and the celebratory chaos will be available through January 5. At the time of this writing, the outlook for presents is good – a status page for Xbox Live is currently showing green lights for online play. Update: The PlayStation Network has gone offline since this story was published. Recent activity from the Ask PlayStation Twitter account notes that an estimated revival time cannot be given, but adds that engineers are currently working on resolving the issue. We recommend keeping an eye on Ask PlayStation and also checking the related status page before making plans to play on PSN. [Image: Rockstar Games]
GTA 5 'Festive Surprise' brings Christmas fear to Los Santas
As the snow drifted quietly this wintry morn, Rockstar Games offered a new "Festive Surprise" update for Grand Theft Auto 5. Players will now be able to use proximity mines and a homing missile launcher in the game, which will feature occasional snowy days. The update also adds holiday pajamas, Christmas sweaters, hats, scarves, masks and other festive gear for free, available through Monday, January 5. GTA 5's Festive Surprise update also features special gifts on Christmas Day (December 25) and a firework launcher and firework rocket ammo to celebrate New Year's. Lastly, players can pick up four new vehicles, such as the Hot Rod Christmas Ratloader and the Slam Van. The open world game's update also tweaked a few of the game's mechanics, adding an on/off switch for the first-person mode's auto-level setting as well as deadzone and acceleration slider controls. Better yet, players are now able to own a third property in GTA Online, allowing them to own up to 30 cars and 9 bicycles. While the Festive Surprise update is available to all players, a recent developer Q&A addressed concerns over next-gen-exclusive updates, such as first-person mode. Rockstar stressed that "there may be some updates that are only technically possible on the new hardware," though it does "hope to continue delivering as many updates as we can for all four consoles for as long as possible." GTA Online's heist missions will be available for all players in early 2015. [Image: Take-Two]
