Posted 2026-01-07 9:02 PM (#186019) Subject: What's New in GTA 5 Online? Key DLCs and How They Work
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If you've been playing GTA Online for a while, you know the map of Los Santos is constantly evolving with new missions, businesses, and stories. This isn't a review or hype piece—it's a straightforward look at the major updates from the last few years, explaining what they actually add to your gameplay and how most players approach them.
What was the Los Santos Summer Special (2020)?
This update was a collection of smaller activities rather than one large narrative. Primarily, it centered around your Galaxy Super Yacht. Your captain, Brendan Darcy, would call with jobs that accidentally started a gang war with the Kkangpae, leading to missions defending your yacht and rescuing crew. Separately, movie producer Solomon Richards would task you with finding stolen movie props across the city. For most players, the yacht missions were a novel way to use an expensive purchase, while the movie prop hunt was a simple, casual collectible activity. The rewards, like the alien outfit, were generally seen as fun novelties rather than major money-makers.
Why is The Cayo Perico Heist considered a game-changer?
Launched in December 2020, this heist fundamentally changed how many players earn money. For the first time, you could complete a major heist entirely solo. You're hired by Miguel Madrazo to infiltrate the private island of drug lord El Rubio. The setup involves purchasing a Kosatka submarine, which acts as your planning base. The key appeal is efficiency and control. Players can scope the island, choose their approach (tunnel, drainage pipe, main dock), and execute the heist on their own schedule. The primary target and secondary loot vary each time, providing decent replay value. In general, because of its high solo payout and relatively short cooldown, Cayo Perico became the go-to grinding method for many.
What did the Los Santos Tuners (2021) update offer?
This update catered specifically to car enthusiasts. The core was the LS Car Meet, a social space where you could show off customized cars, test them on a track, and meet other players. The main new business was the Auto Shop, which functioned like a smaller, faster-paced heist hub. Sessanta and KDJ would offer "Contracts," which are essentially mini-heists like robbing the Union Depository or hitting a bank convoy. These pay well and can be done with one other player. The legitimate side involved delivering and modifying customer cars. Most players who enjoy driving and shorter, action-focused missions found good value here, though the constant flirtatious dialogue from the contacts became a meme in the community.
How does The Contract (2021) update work?
This update brought story back to the forefront by reintroducing Franklin Clinton as a business partner. You invest in an Agency, which becomes a new property. From here, you run two main types of jobs: Security Contracts and the VIP Contract. Security Contracts are short, varied missions (asset recovery, vehicle recovery, assassinations) that increase your Agency's daily passive income. The highlight for many was the VIP Contract, a multi-mission story where you help Dr. Dre recover his stolen phone and unreleased music. It culminates in a unique payphone mission and a finale with a strong cash reward. The Agency also adds the ability to call Imani for vehicle services, like Out of Sight, which is very useful in public sessions.
What are the Los Santos Drug Wars (2022-2023) updates about?
Split into "First Dose" and "Last Dose," this story arc introduces the Fooliganz, a chaotic group led by Dax. It starts with Ron Jakowski and involves taking over a warehouse called The Freakshop. The missions are over-the-top, involving heavy drug themes and strange hallucinations. The major practical addition was the Acid Lab business. After completing the first few missions, you get a Brickade 6x6 that you can upgrade into a mobile drug lab. This business is considered one of the better mid-tier money-making methods; it's easy to supply and has quick sell missions. Some players, frustrated with the grind of other activities, might look for shortcuts to access new content quickly. In fact, it's not uncommon to hear players discuss where to buy gta 5 modded accounts cheap on U4N to jump straight into updates like this with established resources, though progressing naturally through the story missions is the intended path.
What is the Salvage Yard in The Chop Shop (2023) update?
This update adds the Salvage Yard property, run by returning character Yusuf Amir. Its core activity is the weekly "Salvage Yard Robbery." Each week, you get access to plans for stealing 1-3 specific high-end cars. These robberies involve unique setup missions and approaches, similar to mini-heists. Once stolen, you can choose to sell the car whole to Yusuf for a larger lump sum or strip it for parts over several in-game days for a slower, passive income. Between robberies, you can tow abandoned cars to the yard for scrap, which boosts the property's safe income. For players who enjoy vehicle theft and structured, weekly objectives, it's a solid addition.
What are Bottom Dollar Bounties and recent activities about?
The most recent major updates, like San Andreas Mercenaries (2023) and Bottom Dollar Bounties, have focused on adding new mission strands and freelance work. The Mercenaries update let you work with Charlie Reed on operations against Merryweather, adding new air missions and contact work. Bottom Dollar Bounties centers around Maude's successor, Vincent, offering a series of bounty hunting missions across the state. These updates typically provide new ways to earn cash, new vehicles, and more variety in freelance work. They are designed to give veterans with established empires new challenges and toys, rather than introducing another massive business property.
In summary, Rockstar's strategy has been to mix huge, economy-shifting updates like Cayo Perico with smaller, theme-driven ones like Tuners or Drug Wars. Your approach depends on your goals: if it's maximum money, focus on the heists. If it's fun, stories, and cars, the other DLCs have plenty to offer. Most players end up mixing activities to keep the grind from getting stale.
What's New in GTA 5 Online? Key DLCs and How They Work
