GTA Online Los Santos Drug Wars patch notes: New vehicles, Troupe jobs, triple payouts, more

Rockstar Games is soon rolling out GTA Online’s annual winter update, this year known as the Los Santos Drug Wars DLC, addressing feedback directly submitted by community members.

GTA Online fans have received their fair share of gifts to kick off the holiday season. Most recently, players unlocked the Declasse Tahoma Coupe for completing the GTA Trillion heist challenge. Before that, the developers delivered map changes for Halloween and a UFO scavenger hunt.

Rockstar Games’ recent events added new cosmetic items and limited-time events, but historically, winter updates make wide-sweeping gameplay changes. This year is no different, as GTA Online receives major updates based on community feedback.

Let’s take a look at what’s scheduled in the pipeline.

When is GTA Online Winder update coming?

The Los Santos Drug Wars update is live as of December 13 for all platforms. It’s a different sized download based on your platform of choice.

Some Xbox players have reported it as being 13 GB, while others have only had a 7 GB update. PlayStation players will find it is around 5GB, while the update clocks in at around 3GB on PC.

Quality of life improvements

The Winter update makes several quality-of-life changes. New vehicle purchases will arrive faster in player garages, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S users can experience ray-traced reflections, and players can request bicycles from their Personal Garage.

Vehicle Cargo Sell Missions will award higher payouts for bringing them in line with other business activities, and the value of all Shark Cards was boosted starting on December 6.

New vehicles

There are a handful of new vehicles that have launched with the Los Santos Drug Wars update, including two on Legendary Motorsports and three on Southern San Andreas Super Autos.

More are coming with the classic drip feed process, including the free-to-buy Declasse Tahoma Coupe that was unlocked by players for completing the newest community heist challenge.

GTA Online Winter update patch notes

Here are some of the changes that’ll find in the Winter update.

• The Los Santos Drug Wars update adds new Story Missions, Freemode missions, a new business for players to manage as well as a range of experience improvements — including visual, economy, and creator updates.
   
• The Freakshop:
  • A new social space has been added, allowing players to launch new First Dose Story Missions, store and modify their new Acid Lab Business, purchase and modify Mk II weapons, as well as other social activities
  • Six new 1-4 player Story Missions have been added
  • Five new Fooligan Jobs are available through the new phone contact “Dax” after completing First Dose – Welcome to the Troupe
     
• Acid Lab:
  • Once players complete the First Dose and steal the necessary lab equipment, they can install it in the rear of the new MTL Brickade 6×6 vehicle and unlock access to a new Acid Lab business
  • Players will be able to request and drive their Acid Lab while in Freemode
  • This Acid Lab will operate in line with existing businesses, launching source missions to gain supplies that will be turned into Acid product for players to sell
  • Acid Labs can be given custom names
  • Includes the Maibatsu Manchez Scout C, which can be requested in Freemode and is used to deliver Acid Product
     
• Vehicles:
  • Eight new vehicles (including the Mobile Acid Lab) have been added:
    • Överflöd Entity MT (Super) – with HSW Upgrade available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only
    • Declasse Tulip M-100 (Muscle)
    • Zirconium Journey II (Van)
    • BF Surfer Custom (Van)
    • Annis 300R (Sports) – with Imani Tech
    • Declasse Tahoma Coupe (Muscle) – Available for all players to claim for free from December 16 through December 18 as part of The Heists Challenge Reward, then available to purchase for the standard price starting on December 19
    • MTL Brickade 6×6 (Acid Lab)
    • Manchez Scout C (Motorcycle)
       
• Cosmetics:
  • Hundreds of pieces of male and female clothing and accessories have been added to clothing stores
  • A new female hair style has been added
  • 39 Unisex tattoos have been added

Experience Improvements

• Contacts can now be hidden from the phone through a new Phone Contact Favorites option in the Interaction Menu
• All Agatha Baker Casino Story Missions at The Diamond Casino & Resort can now be launched with one player
• Bicycles can now be requested from the Mechanic
• Reduced the time taken for newly purchased vehicles to be delivered
• The ‘hide all’ option in each Map Blip Options category has been reintroduced
• Players no longer need to complete Hao’s Intro Race to access the HSW Upgrade Service and mods (PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only)

Visual Updates

• Ray-traced reflections have been added to Fidelity Mode for both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, adding detail and contrast to the game world. This allows for vehicles, characters, and more details to be shown on reflective and glossy surfaces

Economy Updates

• GTA$ and RP rewards for Smuggler’s Run Sell Missions have been tripled
  • Participation rewards for these missions have also been increased
• The High-Demand Bonus has been applied to Vehicle Cargo Sell Missions

GTA+ Updates (PS5 / Xbox Series X|S only)

• GTA+ bonuses and Gameplay Accelerators– Match and Heist bonuses available to GTA+ Members will now be displayed on Landing Page tiles
• Improved visibility of Bonus Payouts – GTA+ members will now see the bonuses they are receiving as a result of being a Member at the end of activities