'GTA Online' new update coming with Freemode Events

Rockstar Games website

When the next update for the "Grand Theft Auto Online" rolls out, fans can expect an entirely new way to play the game. In the announcement made by developer Rockstar Games, the upcoming update to the online multiplayer mode of "Grand Theft Auto V" is set to introduce Freemode Events.

According to the post, "Taking full advantage of the latest generation of consoles and PC hardware, there are no menus, lobbies, or load times – just an open Freemode session filled with Friends, Crewmates, rivals, and randoms where spontaneous and chaotic new games and challenges will appear." 

This means that Freemode events will just randomly appear in player sessions of "GTA Online," and it is up to the player if they will participate in it. Moreover, the upcoming addition to the game is designed to take advantage of the increasing tech advances in consoles, particularly the current-gen Xbox One and PS4, as well as the PC. This is in line with the publisher and developer's drive to switch to a more immersive, online-connected style of playing. This is why only current-gen consoles will be receiving the update. 

"The primary technical reason is the memory capacity for the older systems," said Imran Sarwar, Director of Design at Rockstar North, in an interview with IGN. "We are constantly adding new items to the game with each update and we began approaching the memory limits after the first year of 'GTA Online' content." 

Scheduled to be released next week, the update will bring new experiences for the players with additional new Freemode event modes such as King of the Castle where players claim and defend a territory, and Hunt the Beast where a player is transformed into a beastly character and tries to escape pursuers. The update will also add two new Adversary modes, Hunting Pack and Cross the Line.