The upcoming December 2022 update for Grand Theft Auto Online will make various changes to the game’s economy, vehicles and general gameplay. Rockstar Games continues to support the multiplayer crime simulator with new content, despite the game releasing way back in 2013. Each GTA Online update expands the world of Los Santos, and the game’s December 2022 update will introduce some fan-requested quality-of-life tweaks.Rockstar Games recently announced the GTA Online Los Santos Drug Wars update, which will release on December 13. This exciting update will introduce a brand-new career path that will see players cook hallucinogenic substances and sell them for profit. These psychedelic drugs will be created in elaborate laboratories or mobile chemistry stations, turning GTA Online players into Walter White from Breaking Bad. The Los Santos Drug Wars update will also include new vehicles and missions, further expanding the game’s robust list of unlawful activities. GTA Online’s Los Santos Drug War update will be the first installment in a two-part story, ensuring that the game will receive new content into the future.Related: GTA Online’s Best Apartments That Help You Avoid Griefers
GTA Online Gets Various Improvements In December 2022
Alongside the Los Santos Drug Wars update, the rest of GTA Online’s new December update was recently detailed in a blog post from Rockstar Games. This month’s update will make a number of improvements to the online open-world experience, many of which were specifically requested by the community. One particularly exciting feature is ray-tracing reflections, which will now be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X via graphics settings. Some Custom Weaponized Vehicles will also be usable in GTA Online races, and Shark Cards have had their value increased. A full list of changes coming with GTA Online’s December 2022 update can be found below:
General Improvements
- Get to your favorite iFruit Contacts faster — select which Contacts to display or hide via the Interaction Menu.
- The Benefactor Terrorbyte can be used to launch Business Sell Missions in all Session types, including Invite-only Sessions.
- Take on Agatha’s Casino Story Missions as a solo operator by visiting the Management Office of The Diamond Casino & Resort (these missions previously required at least 2 players).
- PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X will add ray-traced reflections — rendering real-time reflections on many surfaces — via the Fidelity Mode graphics setting.
Vehicle Updates
- New vehicle purchases will arrive in your Garage faster than before.
- Select Custom Weaponized Vehicles can now be used in Races, where appropriate — weapons will be disabled outside of GTA Races.
- Bicycles will be added to the list of vehicles that can be requested from your Personal Garage when calling the Mechanic.
- Players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S can enjoy full access to Hao’s Special Works without needing to complete Hao’s introductory race.
Economy Updates
- Completing Vehicle Cargo Sell Missions in Public Sessions will award a High Demand Bonus, bringing this in line with all other business activities, while payouts on Smuggler’s Sell Missions will be permanently tripled.
- Get more of what you want faster with an across-the-board increase in the GTA$ value of all Shark Cards. Starting today, all Shark Card denominations have been boosted by 20–25% when purchased directly in GTA Online or via any of the platform stores. For special GTA+ Member Shark Cards, this is on top of the current 15% bonus GTA$.
GTA Online – Los Santos Drug Wars Shows GTA 5’s Multiplayer Is Still Going Strong
While GTA Online is already a robust multiplayer crime simulator, Rockstar Games seems committed to expanding and improving the open-world experience further. For example, an update from back in August expands the GTA Online island Cayo Perico with new races to tackle and buried treasure to find. The tropical island of Cayo Perico was added to the game in the expansive Cayo Perico Heist update back in 2020, but the location was largely devoid of engaging activities other than the update’s titular mission. Thankfully Rockstar decided to add various summer-themed activities to the island, letting players tear across the sand in dune buggies or explore the coastline for lost wealth.
With the Los Santos Drug Wars arriving on December 13, GTA Online will soon add an abundance of new content for both veteran players and new fans to enjoy. GTA Online’s next official update will also add various quality-of-life changes, letting players bring weaponized vehicles into races or select specific contacts to display on their iFruit phone. Despite launching nearly 10 years ago, Grand Theft Auto Online has been kept fresh and engaging thanks to in-depth changes like the ones in the upcoming December 2022 update.
