Shortly after publishing an article about how the 2017 iteration of the annual Festive Surprise update was nearly here, Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar Games released the update along with a newswire post. As with every previous iteration, this update sees the return of holiday favourites, as well as the addition of new content, all with the sprinkled in promise of a “frosty forecast” for the coming week.
The stench of spiked egg nog stained on your Clubhouse floor and drunken Santas stumbling down Vinewood Boulevard can only signify one thing: the Festive Surprise 2017 Event has hit Los Santos and Blaine County.
With Weazel News’ crack team of weathermen already calling for a frosty forecast this coming weekend, new festive gear along with all of your old favorites return to the shops of Southern San Andreas.
Returning content
Content dating back to the original Festive Surprise update in 2013 will be making its return, as well as content from 2014 onwards. This includes the ability to purchase the Firework Launcher (and ammunition for it), various seasonal outfits and masks, the Christmas tree in downtown Los Santos, and the festive trees inside apartments and other residences. Mobile Operations Centers have also received a festive update, adding festive lights, as seen in a series of Tweets by @KarmaIngram1.
This… Impressive @RockstarGames pic.twitter.com/9bUZgX8KNf
— Karma Ingram (@KarmaIngram1) December 19, 2017
@splatout76 look supplies..
let's go destroy it@RockstarGames #AWOL pic.twitter.com/sfMXk21lT2— Karma Ingram (@KarmaIngram1) December 20, 2017
New content
‘Tis the season for new autos
The (road legal) Ubermacht Sentinel Classic has been added to Southern San Andreas Super Autos. It can now be picked up for 650,000 GTA$ and comes in red, pink, yellow, orange, green, blue, black, and white.
Remember when a road legal coupe could moonlight as a performance rally car and no one batted an eye? Back before power windows and satellite radio, when it was just you, the car and the road. The Ubermacht Sentinel Classic is the no-nonsense, lightweight bucket of speed you’ve been dreaming about and it’s here to rocket your ass back to the glory days. Pick up yours today, exclusively from Southern San Andreas Super Autos.
New adversary mode released
A new adversary mode has been added to GTA Online, called Occupy. In this mode, gaining and maintaining control is essential. Players must fight for control over various “zones”. Whoever has control of the most zones and earns the most points wins. As an added bonus, between now and January 8th, 2018, players can earn Double GTA$ and RP playing this mode.
Holiday discounts
In the spirit of the season, this year, Festive Surprise has also included various discounts and savings. A variety of properties and vehicles are now on sale for 30% off.
Properties:
- Arcadius Business Center – 30% off
- Fort Zancudo Hangar 3499 – 30% off
Luxury Vehicles
- Yachts – 30% off (All models)
- Pegassi Zentorno – 30% off
Assault Vehicles
- Armored Karin Kuruma – 30% off (both Buy It Now & Trade price)
- Nagasaki Buzzard – 30% off
- HVY Insurgent – 30% off (both Buy It Now & Trade price)
Premium races and Time Trial events
From December 19th until January 1st, 2018, players have the option to take part in premium races and time trials, which are taking place throughout Los Santos. In premium races, the top three finishers earn GTA$, and all participants receive triple the regular RP. Premium races can be started through the Quick Job App on a player’s in-game phone or “via the yellow corona at Legion Square.”
From December 19th until December 25th, 2017, players can participate in the time trial “Sawmill” and the premium stunt race, “H200”, which is locked to the sports car class. Starting December 26th and running until January 1st, 2018, players will be able to access the “Cypress Flats” time trial as well as the premium race, “Double Loop,” which is locked to the super car class.
New Snapmatic contest
Sharing festive Snapmatic pics with the tag “#FESTIVESURPRISE2017” on the Rockstar Social Club between December 19th and January 1st (at 11:59 PM ET) will enter participants into a Snapmatic Contest, in which five one million GTA$ prizes are up for grabs.
If you set fire to Del Perro Pier dressed in a Gingerbread Bodysuit while your pal launched fireworks into your nether regions but it wasn’t captured on camera, did it really happen?
Cash in on your raucous holiday antics by entering the #FESTIVESURPRISE2017Snapmatic Contest. Tag your pics with #FESTIVESURPRISE2017 on Social Club to be eligible for one of five GTA$1,000,000 rewards. Valid submissions must be uploaded and tagged on Social Club any time between today and 11:59 PM ET on Monday, January 1st. Winners of both this #FESTIVESURPRISE2017 contest and the recent #DOOMSDAY Snapmatic contest will be announced together in the New Year.
What the Christmas day (December 25th) gift(s) from Rockstar Games to players will be is unknown at this point.
In the meantime, better batten down the hatches, snow is coming.1
1: Current dates which the snow will arrive are unknown, but I do have a feeling that we will see snow before (and on) Christmas, and before/on New Years. Too bad those Weazel News "crack" team of weather people haven't been more specific!
Also, I now have (admittedly not so) serious reason to believe that Rockstar Games controls the weather in my part of the world. Not long after the update released, this happened.
https://twitter.com/Markyroson/status/943219857578848257
This coming weekend is also expected to be well below freezing, with snow forecast periodically throughout, including on Christmas, much in the same fashion as GTA Online during the Festive Surprise season. Thanks Rockstar (seriously, thank you)! 😊