Rockstar adds user-created missions and holiday extras to ‘GTA Online’

By David Nield December 29, 2013

rockstar adds user created missions holiday extras gta online

If you’re a dedicated GTA Online player then here are a couple of Christmas presents especially for you: Rockstar has announced both verified user-created missions and some holiday gifts for you to make the most of.

First of all, the gaming publisher has given its official stamp of approval to ten of the million-plus jobs designed by the GTA online community. The Rockstar Verified badge that these missions now have means that they can be played on either PS3 or Xbox 360, irrespective of which platform was used to create them.

Related Videos

The missions include a variety of off-road challenges, stunt jumps, rooftop races, deathmatch battles and prison brawls set in the San Andreas universe. If your own job didn’t make the cut this time, don’t panic — Rockstar has promised that it will be verifying more missions again in the future.

Secondly, the holiday-themed updates: you may have already noticed some snowfall in Los Santos during your Christmas gaming sessions, but there’s more to explore. You can pick up limited edition Santa hats, elf jackets, snowman masks and reindeer antlers at the clothing shops until January 5, while weapons such as grenades, tear gas and sticky bombs are half-price for the same period.

The in-game camera tool Snapmatic has also been given a festive upgrade, which is here to stay: there are a ton of new filters, borders and expressions to play around with, as well as a depth-of-field effect and a meme creator. If you ever get bored of causing mayhem, you can always pause for a well-framed selfie.

GTA Online has already earned a spot in our Best Games of 2013 round-up, and it should only get better as Rockstar pushes out updates.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Grand Theft Auto

Gaming

Easy to install, this 2TB internal SSD for PS5 with heatsink is $160 off

The WD Black SN850 internal SSD being installed in a PlayStation 5.

Sony's PlayStation 5 may have exceeded most expectations, but the console has one glaring limitation -- it only has 825GB of storage space. If you want to install all the titles that you purchase from PS5 game deals, you'll need an internal SSD like Western Digital's WD Black SN850. It will expand your PlayStation 5's internal memory by 2TB for just $200, as it's currently on sale from Best Buy with a $160 discount on its original price of $360. If you're interested, you need to buy it now because we expect this offer to draw a lot of attention.

Why you should buy the WD Black SN850 2TB Internal SSD
The PlayStation 5 is equipped with an 825GB hard drive, but you can only use 667GB of that for games. That's nowhere near enough even for casual gamers, especially as the size of AAA titles continue to grow. Fortunately, you can expand its memory with products like Western Digital's WD Black SN850 2TB Internal SSD. It's officially licensed for the PlayStation 5, so you don't have to worry that it will mess up your console. It's also easy to install -- after removing the console's faceplates, you'll instantly see the M.2 expansion slot that's waiting to accept the internal SSD.

Gaming

Pick up these Nintendo games you can only get on Wii U and 3DS

xenoblade and pokemon picross headline eshop update chronicles x nintendo wii u

The Nintendo Switch has one of the greatest first-party lineups of any Nintendo console. In addition to several outstanding original games, a lot of awesome Wii U games like Super Mario 3D World, Pikmin 3, and Mario Kart 8 finally got all the love they deserved when they were ported to the Switch. Even some 3DS games like Miitopia have made their way to Nintendo Switch. Still, that isn't all-encompassing, so when the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops are discontinued on March 27, we will lose access to some amazing first-party Nintendo games that aren't available elsewhere.
From black sheep in their respective series to new IP that tests out some novel ideas, four Wii U and four 3DS games that are still platform exclusives stuck out the most to us. If you're specifically looking for Nintendo-published games to pick up before the 3DS and Wii U eShops stop allowing the purchase of new games, consider picking up one of these titles.
Xenoblade Chronicles X

Considering the rest of the Xenoblade Chronicles series is on Nintendo Switch, it's very surprising that Xenoblade Chronicles X has not made the jump over yet. This RPG stands as the black sheep of the series, with a more gritty style and tone, mech suits, and a plot about humans who crash land on an alien planet after escaping Earth, which might be why it didn't come over before the trilogy was completed. Xenoblade Chronicles X is a great game in its own right, though, and also makes ample use of the Wii U GamePad for its detailed map and menus. As such, it's a worthwhile Wii U pickup for those who like to play games uniquely tailored to the system and enjoy seeing what the oddball entries in game franchises have to offer.
Star Fox Zero

Gaming

How to connect a PS5 controller to a PC

playstation 5 controller ps5

The PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller is one of the biggest leaps in controller design ever, adding advanced haptic feedback to Sony’s new console. For games that take full advantage of it, like Astro’s Playroom, the effect it has on the play experience can be truly game-changing. Like most other console controllers, the DualSense can also be used to play games on PC, though without the full benefit of features like variable-resistance triggers.

For those who want to get a little more mileage out of their DualSense, here’s how to connect the PS5 controller to a PC. While the good news is that the DualSense works just like any other controller on a PC, the bad news is that, well, the DualSense works just like any other controller. It may lack the PS5-specific features that make it such a standout when connected to a PC, but it’s also simple to set up and use, whether you want to connect using a USB cable or Bluetooth.
How to connect a PS5 controller to PC with USB
Connecting the PS5 controller to a PC with a USB cable will likely be the go-to option for most people, as it’s extremely easy to do and won’t run the risk of draining the DualSense’s battery during a play session. Just connect the DualSense to a USB-C to USB-A cable (like the one that comes with the PS5), and plug the other end into your PC. If your PC has a USB-C port, you can also use a regular USB-C cable. If you’re purchasing a new DualSense on its own, as opposed to using one that comes with the console, just be aware that it won’t come with its own cable.
How to connect a PS5 controller to PC with Bluetooth
If your computer has built-in Bluetooth capability or you have a separate Bluetooth adapter, you can also connect the DualSense wirelessly. The process is the same as connecting any wireless controller. Just hold the PS button and the Create button on the DualSense to start pairing. On your PC, navigate to the Bluetooth & Other Devices menu and click Add Bluetooth or other device, then select the Bluetooth option. When the connection is made, the PS5 controller will show up as Wireless Controller in the menu.
How to use a PS5 controller on PC with Steam
The major caveat to using a PS5 controller on PC is that not all games will recognize it natively. Fortunately, Valve added limited DualSense support to Steam almost as soon as the PS5 was released and is continuing to add features. All the Steam games with controller support are playable with the DualSense, and functions like motion controls, rumble, and the light bar should work just like they did for the PS4’s controller, though new features like adaptive triggers still aren’t working.