When it comes to video game development, various studios go through development cycles to help churn out content and plan ahead for the future. What this means for GTA Online is that players should expect that during the summer of 2023, there should be a new major DLC update for Grand Theft Auto Online. What exactly is coming to GTA Online in the upcoming summer? Will there be a new major story that players will be able to experience? Will it have ties into the upcoming game, Grand Theft Auto 6? We are here to give you the latest updates for everything we know about the next major update to GTA Online, so read on.
Update on 13 June 2023 - We've checked for the latest news and leaks relating to GTA Online's Summer Update, San Andreas Mercenaries.
Want some help with the new GTA Online Summer Update 'San Andreas Mercenaries'? Then take a look at some of these guides to help you get started:
- GTA Online San Andreas Mercenaries Patch Notes & Download Size
- GTA Online San Andreas Mercenaries Vehicles List
- GTA Online San Andreas Mercenaries Mission List
- GTA Online Vinewood Car Club, Explained
- How To Get The New Tactical SMG In GTA Online
- How To Use New Sprint Controls In GTA Online
- How To Name Your Acid Product In GTA Online
- How To Use Stealth Mode On F-160 Plane In GTA Online
- GTA Online's New Career Progress Feature, Explained
- GTA Online VTOL Controls, Explained
- How To Register as a Boss In GTA Online
Table of Contents
Latest News & Leaks
Just below you'll find the latest news and leaks related to GTA Online's upcoming Summer update for 2023:
On June 13, the GTA Online San Andreas Mercenaries update will be released, but it will also introduce The Vinewood Car Club — a new premium service in Los Santos for GTA+ Members.
Here's how it works: GTA+ Members on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S will be granted entrance into this exclusive association for the city’s upper crust. Beyond the opportunity to rub elbows with fellow elites, The Vinewood Club has big plans for an expanding roster of special benefits catering to its growing clientele.
The first of these perks to roll out on June 13 is an all-access pass to The Vinewood Car Club — a new location for members of The Vinewood Club where you’ll have access to a curated stock of distinct vehicles to test drive, order to your location and use while in Freemode, and purchase at an exclusive discount. You can also inspect the complimentary GTA+ vehicle inside The Vinewood Car Club and claim it directly from that location.
We can't wait to see more!
As part of next week’s new GTA Online update — featuring new missions, vehicles, events, and much more — Rockstar Games have also shared some of the other improvements and experiential updates and upgrades they'll be adding.
A lengthy new blog post from the team has revealed a whole heap of changes, including vehicle updates, gameplay updates, balancing updates, new career progression, and much more.
It's too much to fit into this dinky little page, so you'll be better off taking a look at the official GTA Online patch notes.
Here it is! The new GTA Online San Andreas Mercenaries Trailer. Here's a bit more info too:
"It’s payback time … see Merryweather Security and their corrupt killers for hire get what's coming to them in the explosive new trailer for GTA Online: San Andreas Mercenaries — coming June 13 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. Join up with expert pilot and skilled merc Charlie Reed to lead his new outfit — the Los Santos Angels — on a series of dangerous counter operations to disarm and disrupt the ruthless forces of Merryweather Security, with the chance for you and your friends to earn your own fortunes along the way."
It's been announced! Coming on June 13 is GTA Online San Andreas Mercenaries. Here's the official info you need to know:
"It’s no secret Merryweather Security are as corrupt as everyone else in this town — but now there’s talk on the street that these shady contract killers are scaling up and squeezing out any rogue competition across Southern San Andreas. For freelance professionals in the criminal underground, this could be the last straw — it’s time to hit them where it hurts.
Take flight alongside a team of elite pilots and ex-military operators to do battle against the monolithic forces of San Andreas’ largest private military in GTA Online: San Andreas Mercenaries, an action-packed new update spanning the streets, seas, and skies on June 13.
Expert aircraft mechanic and ace pilot Charlie Reed is putting together a squadron of proficient aviators and guns-for-hire known only as the Los Santos Angels to take on new lucrative private work, stealing sensitive data from server farms, conducting raids, and dropping explosive payloads on high-value targets across the state.
With Charlie's help, the Mammoth Avenger will become an enhanced aerial command center equipped with a new Operations Terminal and weapons system upgrades. Plus, you’ll embark upon new ventures running valuable contraband on the ground as well as come across spontaneous opportunities to liberate cash and commodities from lucrative roving targets."
Normally the GTA+ reveals have been a good indicator of when we can expect a new GTA Online Update to release. We wonder what's going on.
It certainly feels like something is brewing...
Whenever we are 2 weeks away from GTA+ end date, Rockstar adds a notification that the current GTA+ month is ending soon.
— Tez2 (@TezFunz2) May 25, 2023
This, however, wasn't added with today's tunable suggesting an extension. Hence the "typo" from last week.
Pic below from previous GTA+ month.#GTAOnlinepic.twitter.com/B97BssoDej
It was only in December, but it already feels like an absolute age since Rockstar Games released the GTA Online Winter Update update.
Maybe that's partly due to the Los Santos Drug Wars DLC being split into two parts, with 'The First Dose' released in December and 'The Last Dose' released in March 2023.
But now most of the content has been released, which means we've moved into that bizarre period between the drip-feed content ending and the new update launching.
Unfortunately, we've probably got another few months to go, with more Summer Updates dropping in July/August.
We'll be sure to keep this updated with any further news if we get it, but we expect Rockstar to go quiet for a month or two before we maybe start seeing any teasers for whats to come next.
It's somewhat interesting that after months of hints at the inclusion of Michael De Santa from GTA V, we end up getting his therapist Dr Friedlander in the new 'Last Dose' Missions.
We're one step closer to the release of the GTA Online Summer update for 2023.
Normally players wouldn't get any extra content released in between the Winter and Summer update, but this year, Rockstar Games have chosen to release their Winter update as a two-parter.
The second section of the GTA Online: Los Santos Drug Wars update is set to release on March 16.
It'll be interesting to see if any leakers manage to discover anything in the aftermath of the update that might relate to what's coming to the game further down the line.
When Will The GTA Online 2023 Summer Update Release
When it comes down to it, Rockstar Games usually release new expansions to GTA Online at fairly similar times each year.
Since 2019 players have always got at least two significant updates to the game each year. the first comes in the Summer, with the second update dropping in the Winter.
If you look at the table below, you can see precisely when Rockstar Games has released these updates.
Since Rockstar Games almost always drop a Summer Update in July/August each year, it seems fairly nailed on that the 2023 GTA Online Summer update will release at some point after July 25, 2023.
Naturally, it's impossible to say for sure what day the update will drop, this is just a prediction for the time being, but as you can see on the table below, there's certainly enough evidence to suggest this is the release window Rockstar will be aiming for.
GTA Online Update | Release Date |
Los Santos Drug Wars |
December 13th, 2021
|
The Criminal Enterprises |
July 26th, 2022
|
The Contract |
December 15th, 2021
|
Los Santos Tuners | July 20th, 2021. |
The Cayo Perico Heist |
December 15th, 2020
|
Los Santos Summer Special |
August 11th, 2020.
|
The Diamond Casino Heist |
December 12th, 2019
|
The Diamond Casino & Resort |
July 23rd, 2019.
|
Arena War |
December 11th, 2018
|
After Hours |
July 24th, 2018.
|
Southern San Andreas Super Sport Series |
March 20th, 2018
|
GTA Online Summer 2023 Update Leaks
At the time of this writing, nothing major has leaked yet for the summer DLC update for GTA Online. Although data miners have given us an idea of what we could expect, and potentially it might revolve around the return of fan favourite Michael De Santa from GTA V.
It's of course worth noting that, as with all leaks, you should take everything with a pinch of salt until it's fully confirmed or denied by Rockstar Games. Now we have that disclaimer out of the way, here's the scoop.
During 2022 a number of dataminers found a few new references to movie sets in the game's code (see below). As suggested by GTA Online expert TezFunz2, it could be the game is setting things up nicely for some sort of DLC surrounding Michael De Santa. After all, during The Contract DLC, Franklin Clinton mentions that Michael De Santa is still alive and working as an associate producer for Solomon Richards at Richards Majestic Studios.
Data miners for GTA Online have found that the movie set in GTA Online has a new scenario spawn point on it. What this usually means is that there is a story mission involved with this location in the game.
Data miners expected that this scenario spawn point was going to be part of the most recent Winter DLC, but it's still going unused. So potentially this movie studio might be part of the Summer 2023 update.
We will update this page as we learn more.
For more GTA Online news be sure to check out our dedicated section, or some of our Guides & Tutorials on the drop downs below:
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