Recently, Rockstar Games has had a rumored Grand Theft Auto 5 Premium Online Edition in the works. Originally sighted on an Amazon listing, speculation about what the edition contained flooded forums and threads. One idea suggested a 4K update, but that theory was shut down by Sony/Microsoft policy that prevents them from being sold separately. The edition had little known about it for a while until Kotaku confirmed that it was being distributed in April and would merely be a bundle of the game and the Criminal Enterprise Starter Pack.
Fans were waiting all of this month for more information and an announcement from Rockstar Games on whether or not the edition would be released. Rumors sparked that it had been delayed to make way for a final update, or better, more information on Red Dead Redemption 2. It seemed this way for a while, as info kept hidden from us. However, just yesterday the cover art was leaked by GTA Series Videos, practically confirming the existence, if not imminent announcement of the edition.
However, just earlier, UK video game outlet GAME posted a front-page slider of Grand Theft Auto 5 Premium Online Edition. It had a caption of “JUST ANNOUNCED”, even though it hadn’t been. Yet, a few hours later, Rockstar Games took to their newswire to announce it officially. While GAME stated that the edition in the UK was exclusive to them, other UK retailers began to list the edition after the official announcement, so it is hard to pinpoint what GAME mean.
Rockstar Games’ official description of the Grand Theft Auto 5 Premium Online Edition is quite vague. Included is “the complete Grand Theft Auto V story experience, the ever evolving world of Grand Theft Auto Online, and all existing gameplay upgrades and content including The Doomsday Heist, Gunrunning, Smuggler’s Run, Bikers and much more”. “You’ll also get the Criminal Enterprise Starter Pack, the fastest way for new GTA Online players to jumpstart their criminal empires with the most exciting and popular content plus $1,000,000 bonus cash to spend in GTA Online – over GTA$10,000,000 in value.”
While this edition might be out of the blue, and not even include new content, it does bring hope. The fact that Rockstar Games are releasing an edition for Grand Theft Auto V indicates the end of an era of post-launch updates. However, this could merely be the end of Phase 1 in many more years of content. While Red Dead Redemption 2 info is beginning to slither through the cracks of insiders mouths, Rockstar might be finally dying down on Grand Theft Auto V content. As for stopping post-launch content entirely, that’s less likely.
The edition is available now for PC, PS4 and Xbox One for a whopping $50.