Rockstar Games has officially kicked off the final chapter of its famous drug-themed yearly 420 Event in Grand Theft Auto Online, signaling a major transition for the massive player base. This latest update for GTA Online represents a sort of symbolic farewell to the current version of the digital city. The studio is now shifting its full attention away from long-term seasonal updates to focus on the next big step for the series. With events like these, the developers gave the community one last chance to experience these iconic festivities in their present form, though GTA Online will remain online for the foreseeable future.
For more than ten years, the streets of Los Santos have provided a home for a sprawling multiplayer community. GTA Online has been a financial juggernaut for Rockstar, generating billions of dollars and creating a foundation for the most expensive entertainment projects in history. This sustained success has allowed the developers to keep the world fresh with a constant stream of updates, ranging from high-stakes bank robberies to more relaxed social events. The current iteration of the game is entering its sunset phase, as the studio moves closer to releasing its next major title. This transition has led to a gradual phasing out of the traditional seasonal content that fans have come to rely on over the years.
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Saying Goodbye to GTA Online Traditions
The main attraction for this farewell event was the Stoner Survival mode, which introduced a level of psychedelic chaos that the franchise has rarely explored in such depth. The gameplay loop for this activity was significantly more surreal than typical gunfights. Before the action began, players had to smoke a substance provided by LD Organics, which caused the screen to distort and unhinged enemies to materialize out of thin air. Players would find themselves fighting against waves of colorful aliens, life-sized action figures, and even clowns carrying heavy wrenches. There were also reports of people dressed in Cluckin’ Bell chicken suits joining the fray, creating a kaleidoscopic nightmare for any team attempting to survive. This bizarre mode was activated only once a day at 4:20 PM in the game world and would shut down precisely at 8:20 PM, through April 22. Some additional celebratory bonuses ran through April 29.
Beyond the trippy visuals, there were several significant rewards and challenges that encouraged players to participate before the festivities ended. There was a high-stakes Weekly Challenge tied to the survival mode that offered some of the rarest gear in the game. If players could successfully navigate through five waves of these hallucinations, they would be rewarded with the rare Sasquatch Outfit and a digital cash bonus of GTA$420,000. This particular bonus was only available until April 22, making it a high-priority target for collectors. For those who just wanted a souvenir, they could simply log in before the event ended on April 29 to receive a free Black LD Organics Tee. Additionally, a new location for the "Hunting Pack" activity featuring Lamar was offering quadrupled payouts in both money and reputation points for the duration of the event.
The world of Los Santos was also hiding several other secrets that players would want to find during these final months of major updates. The psychedelic peyote plants returned, with 76 individual cacti scattered across the map for players to discover. These plants could be found in the foothills of the Tataviam Mountains and even deep beneath the waves of the ocean. Eating one will transform a character into a random animal, providing a hilarious break from the usual criminal activities. The studio was also offering massive discounts on all weed farm business operations to help players maximize their profits. Payouts for "Short Trips" missions were also doubled, while sales involving Street Dealers and "Smoke on the Water" deliveries saw significant cash boosts throughout the week.
What's That Weapon?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
As the community says goodbye to this iteration of the yearly drug culture event, the focus is firmly on what the future holds for the series. The developers have hinted that similar community events will almost certainly return once the next generation of the game is fully established. The phasing out of seasonal content in Los Santos is a necessary step as the studio moves into the final six months of development for the next entry. While the multiplayer portion of GTA 6 won't be available on day one, the single-player experience will keep everyone busy in the meantime. This final 420 event was a fitting tribute to the wild, unpredictable energy that has defined the game for a decade, and it sets the stage for a new beginning in the coming year.
- Released
- October 1, 2013
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Engine
- Rockstar Advanced Game Engine
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
