This week, Rockstar released its most requested and long-awaited update to GTA Online, the Los Santos Tuners update is one of the latest DLC’s to hit this game after nearly 8 months after the company shipped out its newest largest heist update Cayo Perico to GTA Online. This time Rockstar emphasises the car culture theme, having nearly played most of this update it really brought a lot to this game. It brings an-new hub for players to hang around with their ride, a series of heist Fast & Furious alike missions and introduces a new Autoshop available for purchase where players can start a new vehicle business. It’s a jam-packed update filled with tens of hours of content and it’s a really enjoyable one too for GTA Online fans who are not so keen on the updates that introduced those annoying overpowered vehicles.
Rockstar also listened with a host of quality of life changes to the game, some of the biggest changes include allowing players to customize the radio wheel in the interaction menu. This was one of the changes that was really much needed as more radio stations are constantly being added to the game while also becoming a bit harder to pick our favourite radio stations (looking at you Non-Stop Pop). There’s also a new option to change your vehicle stance in the interaction menu, too, also a very welcome feature!
Los Santos: Car Meet – a really great and peaceful hub for car shows
The biggest takeaway of this update is that it really highlights the new car meet hub which is located within Cypress Flats. It also comes with a familiar face as some players might know as Hao, who was also seen in the Story Mode as a stranger and the super early days of GTA Online. Players will see a bit more of Hao in a cutscene when going into the car meet for the first time.
The new car meet comes with a host of new services and a reputation system which is key to opening new unlocks to the cosmetic items for clothing and the new vehicle upgrades. You can earn new reputation by engaging in the new street races (which are absolutely fantastic by the way!) and taking part in the time trials on the new test track inside the car meet.
Rockstar also wants to make this area peaceful as possible so there are restrictions inside this little area – you won’t be able to blast the firing rockets from the MK2 Oppressor inside there.
Just overall this place is so fantastic and clearly a lot of thought went into building this hub. The attention to detail in this new little hub really shows this, there is a randomization system where all the NPC vehicles are placed in different car spots in every lobby – the new test track too which can be found in front of the car meet is also a really nice place to test the boundaries of your own vehicles without other players blowing you up is a super welcome addition!
The new Contact Missions are so underrated – why isn’t this not being mentioned enough?
All players with the new Autoshop business will be able to engage in a series of 6 new contact missions with Moodymann and Sessanta, these missions are all based around robbing Los Santos. Some of the missions are filled with action-packed scenes – one of the missions involves robbing a Merryweather train and shooting down the breaks to halt it. There are also two other amazing missions that involve robbing six Flecca Bank branches across the map and assassinating several prisoners in Bolingbroke Penitentiary.
Having played nearly all six missions they are just incredible and really enjoyable to play. Though the pay is quite a letdown considering the work it takes to do as there are setup preps before the robberies. But still, Rockstar has done a great job with delivering these new missions – Rockstar promises to release more contact missions later down the line at least one involving the Union Depository.
Verdict on the update
The Los Santos Tuners update is one of the best and greatest updates to hit GTA Online, it’s such a welcome update to the game and it has really embraced the meaning of Grand Theft Auto as a whole. It feels good to have an update that doesn’t add more overpowered vehicles and focuses on the player feedback – and a new place to have our own car shows without griefers interfering with our meets.
As a day one player of this game I really hope more updates such as these continue going forward – well done to the developers at Rockstar Games for listening and catering updates like these to the community!
What I’ve been able to play is great but ever since Tuners was released I’m only able to get online once out of every 10 or so tries. Cost me my run of daily objectives and I’m not even going to bother trying for the prize car till they fix their servers. It’s not just me – lots of reports on Downdetector and my Dad can’t get on either.