The latest update is now available for GTA Online, entitled The Independence Day Special (in association with Ammu-Nation). The update, as the name suggests, is a celebration of the USA’s Independence Day on the 4th July, and the result is a plethora of temporary additions to the game to help celebrate this time of national pride.
We say temporary, because the update is only available to download for the first half of July. No specific end date has been announced yet, other that Rockstar stating on their support site that the update will be available until around mid-July. Nonetheless, any items that you bought which were exclusive to the Independence Day Special update will remain in your inventory, except for special guns like the Fireworks Rocket Launcher and its ammunition.
GTA Online Independence Day Special update 1.15 details
Special Crate Drops
While the update is in effect, players will randomly receive messages directing them to crate drops that contain 6 different beer hats and a special Statue Oh Happiness t-shirt for your character. Watch out for a plane on your map to find the drop zone!
New vehicles
- Vapid introduces “The Liberator”: an off-road truck which can be purchased from the Warstock website (accessed via Pegasus), but is not moddable. Comes with nifty American flag livery.
- The Western Sovereign Motorcycle, which is available to purchase from San Andreas Super Autos and also comes with nifty American flag livery.
New Weapons
- The Fireworks Launcher, which requires special Fireworks ammunition.
- The Musket: a proud piece of American history!
Other new features
- New Independence Day themed clothing items
- New “Patriot” parachute smoke colour that alternates between red, white, and blue smoke.
- New “Patriot” tire smoke colour that alternates between red, white, and blue smoke.
- New animal masks added to the mask shop. 12 in total: 6 masks each with 2 colour options.
- Mullet hairstyle for male and female characters.
- Stars and Stripes face paint is available in the barber shops and salons.
- New car horns added to LS Customs, each a part of the Star Spangled Banner song.
- Players can ride roller coasters!
- Adjusted Mental State mechanics, reducing unfairly rising Mental State stat.
- Many other glitch and bug fixes; see the full list here.
New contact jobs in the Independence Day Special update
Hard Labour
Contact: Gerald
Rank: 19
Players: 1-4
Gerald wants you to locate and assassinate the head of a rival crew operating out of a construction site.
Time to get Away
Contact: Madrazo
Rank: 20
Players: 1-2
Madrazo’s cousin, El Estupido, is in trouble with the law. The cops have him surrounded in Paleto Bay and Madrazo needs you to extract him to the safety of his chopper.
Pickup Sticks
Contact: Madrazo
Rank: 21
Players: 1-4
Madrazo wants you, with the aid of a helicopter, to steal his rivals’ product and deliver it to him for a cut of the profits.
Other new jobs in the Independence Day Special update
Across the Wilderness (Race)
Rank: 1
Players: 1-8
An off-road race through the Paleto Forest containing a large jump.
Americana (Parachuting)
Rank: 20 Players: 1-8
Parachute into the Vinewood Bowl from 6,000 feet in the air.
Contend: Pyrotechnics (Capture)
Rank: 1
Players: 4-16
Capture the flag against another team. The team with the most flags wins.
Falling Fast (Parachuting)
Rank: 11
Players: 1-8
Parachute onto the roof of Burger Shot in Vespucci from 4,210 feet.
Grand Senora Desert LTS (Last Team Standing)
Rank: 19
Players: 2-16
As it says on the tin, Last Team Standing in the desert. Find some cover to avoid getting caught in the open!
GTA: Land of the Free (Capture)
Rank: 1
Players: 4-16
Four teams with off-road vehicles do battle to claim ownership of a Monster Truck.
Guns and Gasoline (Parachuting)
Rank: 11
Players: 1-8
Parachute along the Land Act Dam and land between a petrol station and an Ammu-Nation.
Mud, Sweat and Gears (Race)
Rank: 8
Players: 1-8
Off-road race with Monster Trucks!
Panic Attack (Deathmatch)
Rank: 1
Players: 2-16
Deathmatch taking place in the parking lot of the Maze Bank Arena.
Raid: Bunker Thrill (Capture)
Rank: 1
Players: 1-8
One team attempts to hold the hill with a Monster Truck, while the other team with a Mesa will attempt to raid the camp.
Road Tripping (Deathmatch)
Rank: 1
Players: 2-12
Deatchmatch taking place along the motor hotels of Route 68
Swamp Monster (Race)
Rank: 15
Players: 1-8
A lap race along Lago Zancudo with Monster Trucks.
Tour the Lake (Race)
Rank: 8
Players: 1-8
Point-to-point motorbike race around the lake, starting and ending at the Alamo Sea.
We Have Lift-Off (Race)
Rank: 8
Players: 1-8
Lap race with Monster Trucks along the Sandy Shores desert. Watch out for the cops!
One further – and rather significant – change that has been implemented in the latest update is the ability for players to accept a job and continue to play in free roam until the job fills up with players, reducing the amount of time idly spent in a lobby waiting for a job to launch. Brilliant!
Let us know in the comments what you think about the latest GTA Online update!