Meanwhile, GTA Online is still undergoing tweaks as Rockstar continues to balance the twitchy economy. Late last week a new patch updated various issues with the troubled multiplayer mode, but also halved the amount gamers could make from repeat missions. According to GameSpot, the publisher explained he decision thus: "We understand players do like to enjoy a mission multiple times, so rather than remove the possibility of doing so, we've allowed replays of these missions at a reduced payout. Many players can get very good at a mission and beat it much faster in consecutive tries, so we've adjusted these payouts to match that case."
The problem Rockstar has is the need to gently lead gamers away from turning the mode into a grind-fest, without making it look like a way to nudge them toward micro transactions. But responses have been… mixed. Beneath the announcement on the GTA support site LocoWithGun writes: "To be honest missions are rather worthless now. Maybe I'll do the occasional Base Invaders that comes my way but that's about it. There was already a huge trouble getting anyone to join your mission ... newbies are never going to get anyone to play with them now."
On the plus side, it seems the promised "stimulus package" will arrive this week, giving GTA Online veterans a major free cash boost to the tune of $500,000. Rockstar is also preparing to launch new features, which according to its Newswire site includes a DLC package named Beach Bum pack (lots of new beach ware for characters, plus four new beach vehicles) and a content creator that allows players more breadth to design and run their own personalised death match and race events. More exciting, though, will be the launch of more in-depth Heist missions, requiring tactical co-op play. Players getting tired of pummelling through street jobs and grinding high-paying errands from Gerald will be pleased to try out something a little more complex.
They patched that in the last update.
