Grand Theft Auto 5 has been able to endure for years for many reasons. Its world is obsessively detailed, and there is never a shortage of activities to partake in. It also features three protagonists whose narratives intertwine to tell a captivating crime story. Most importantly, however, Grand Theft Auto 5 has been kept alive by Grand Theft Auto Online which takes players to a Los Santos populated by gamers from around the world. In Grand Theft Auto Online, players can work towards becoming wealthy entrepreneurs, they can partake in races, or just wreak havoc.
Although Grand Theft Auto Online constantly receives updates, it has yet to include the kinds of gang warfare that are available in previous GTA games. The inclusion of gang warfare would open new gameplay options and give players more reason to visit different areas of the map.
Gang Warfare in Previous Grand Theft Auto Games
Gang warfare has been a part of many Grand Theft Auto games. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 game by Rockstar which takes place in San Andreas, a fictional US state which contains Los Santos. Players take control of Carl Johnson, better known as CJ, who returns to his hometown shortly after his mother's death. When he returns to Los Santos, he realizes that his gang, the Grove Street Families, is in disarray and he vows to deal with all the issues the gang is facing.
After completing a few missions, players can take part in gang warfare. This is done by traveling to territories controlled by rival gangs and killing rival gang members. Players will then have to fend off waves of gang members. If the players manage to kill them all, the territory will then be controlled by the Grove Street Families.
There are plenty of benefits that come with controlling territory. By taking over territory, players earn respect and money. Furthermore, when traveling through territory controlled by Grove Street Families, players will not be attacked by opposing gangs. Territories that are controlled by Grove Street Families will occasionally be attacked by enemy gangs, and players will have to rush to the scene to defend their turf.
Taking over territories is tough, as gang members will come in waves, and they carry a wide range of weapons. To win gang wars, players have to make sure they have enough guns and ammunition to deal with waves of enemies, and they need to have a good understanding of the layout of the territory because it is easy to get overwhelmed with enemies.
Gang warfare makes a return in Grand Theft Auto 4. In The Lost and Damned, which is the DLC to GTA 4, players take control of Johnny, who is part of a biker gang called The Lost MC. To initiate a gang war, players must hop on their motorbike and ride to a designated meeting point before riding to the enemy's turf. The more gang wars Johnny completes, the greater the number of enemies Johnny will have to deal with. Enemies will also come with more powerful weapons. As is the case in San Andreas, The Lost and Damned offers rewards to players who complete gang wars.
Gang wars are a fun addition to any Grand Theft Auto game, as they allow players to unload their weapons on hordes of enemies. Unfortunately, Grand Theft Auto 5 and Grand Theft Auto Online have yet to include anything that matches the heights of the gang wars in San Andreas and GTA 4.
Gang Warfare in Grand Theft Auto Online
Although Grand Theft Auto Online does not have gang warfare, it does feature gang attacks. Players will receive a call from Martin Madrazo who asks for some of his enemies to be killed. Gang attacks take place in different locations at different times, and they can be activated by shooting at enemies. Players will then have to survive as a deluge of enemies run their way. The higher the player's rank, the more powerful the weapons enemies will carry.
Although these missions are fun, they do not compare to the gang warfare found in San Andreas. There are many ways Rockstar could replicate the gang warfare of San Andreas in GTA Online. As is the case in San Andreas, GTA Online's map could be divided into different territories. Players could then team up with their friends, join a gang, and take on other players who are defending their territory.
The gang with the most territory could be rewarded with a steady stream of passive income from controlling turf, and they would also have to protect their turf from opposing gangs who wish to expand. Having players join different gangs to fight for turf control would keep players returning to GTA Online to prevent their gang from losing power. A desire for such gameplay was seen during the alien gang wars where players put on green and purple alien suits and attacked each other using only melee weapons.
The inclusion of Franklin in GTA Online through The Contract update gives more reasons for gang warfare to make a return. In The Contract, Franklin has made a good life for himself as a business and his ventures eventually lead him to Dr. Dre. Both Franklin and his friend Lamar are part of the Families, and a plot that takes him back to his gangster roots could be easily weaved. Of course, gang wars should be opt-in so that players who are not interested in it can continue gaming without worrying about rivaling gangs.
Grand Theft Auto Online may be many years old, but there is still a lot that can be done with the beautiful city of Los Santos. The inclusion of gang wars that pit the Families against the Ballas would certainly be a nostalgic blast from the past. It could also be a way of unifying players against a common enemy, allowing players to feel a sense of camaraderie while rewarding teamwork.
Grand Theft Auto Online is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.