Rockstar Games never disappoints. Case in point, the latest San Andreas Mercenaries update for Grand Theft Auto Online.
After promising its release earlier this month, Rockstar unveiled the update on June 13, bringing plenty of features as well as improvements to the game.
Unfortunately, there are concerns about GTA Online associated with the game’s latest update.
Primarily, the San Andreas Mercenaries update introduces an epic storyline featuring your squad, the Los Santos Angels, a group led by Charlie Reed, a skilled pilot, and mechanic. Your team will engage in a series of battles against the formidable Merryweather Security private army, aiming to eradicate their corrupt practices and ensure the survival of criminals in San Andreas. The addition of high-value contracts brings a layer of complexity and excitement that keeps players on their toes.
The update centers on the Mammoth Avenger, an aircraft that will serve as your command center in the sky. With Charlie’s assistance, you can transform this massive plane into a hub for running operations and upgrading weapon systems. This centralization opens the door to more ventures, including striking high-value moving targets to amass cash and supplies, solidifying the player’s criminal empire.
True to the Rockstar Games tradition, the update also welcomes a fleet of new vehicles, including fresh rides like the Grotti Itali GTO Stinger TT and Vapid Clique Wagon, as well as two new planes from Warstock Cache & Carry. Future arrivals, like the Bravado Buffalo EVX, an electric muscle car, have been hinted at, creating an exciting buzz among the players.
Adding to the arsenal is the Tactical SMG, a fully automatic and potent new weapon available following the San Andreas Mercenaries update. Perfect for drive-by attacks, this gun is sure to enhance players’ combat capabilities.
However, the update wasn’t all smooth sailing. Amid the excitement, Rockstar Games also removed over 180 vehicles from in-game stores. While the company justified this as an attempt to “streamline the shopping experience,” this mass removal met with significant backlash from players, particularly as some previously free cars were now exclusive to GTA+ subscribers.
Despite this controversy, Rockstar Games remains committed to delivering a quality gaming experience, as evidenced by the quality of life improvements introduced with the “San Andreas Mercenaries” update. These include streamlined features like being able to claim all destroyed vehicles at once and an interactive GTA Online Career Progress tracker available for PS5 and Xbox Series players.
Players subscribed to GTA+ will also enjoy additional perks, like access to The Vinewood Car Club, a premium service that provides a curated selection of vehicles for purchase at a discounted rate. Although some fans are disgruntled about the car removal, these extra features suggest that Rockstar is attempting to keep the game fresh and player-centric.
While the changes haven’t been unanimously well-received, the mixture of thrilling airborne combat, new cars, and quality-of-life improvements present a compelling offering that’s hard to resist for any GTA fan.
With a much larger expansion coming later this year, the long wait for GTA 6 will only get easier.
