GTA Online: Festive Surprise 2020 - Release Date, Bonuses, News & More

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Feeling Festive? Well, you may be able to get the in the holiday spirit thanks to GTA Online.

We recently saw the brand new Cayo Perico update arrive, but will we see a further Christmas update thanks to the Festive Surprise.

Snow falls in San Andreas

We're yet to see any confirmed Christmas events, but we've got snowfall in some form of GTA at least!

@GTASeries on Twitter shared images of the snow fall in San Andreas, as well as sharing details of how to receive a free Christmas Gift from Rockstar!

All you have to do is log into GTA Online, so what are you waiting for?

Move over Weekly Update?

Following the pattern of previous years, we had predicted the Festive Surprise was going to drop on Friday, 18 December.

With next Friday being Christmas day, we now think that if the Festive Surprise does drop, it will arrive on Christmas eve - Thursday, 24 December - as part of the next Weekly Update.

For everything we know about the 24 December update, head here.

Release Date

If the Festive Surprise does arrive, it will be latest it ever has appeared.

• December 18, 2014 - January 5, 2015
• December 18, 2015 - January 5, 2016
• December 20, 2016 - January 5, 2017
• December 19, 2017 - January 1, 2018
• December 18, 2018 - January 7, 2019
• December 19, 2019 - January 5, 2020

GTA Online Festive Surprise 2020 Release Date
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CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN: This year's event will likely have a similar release date to previous years

We can expect this year's update to start around the same time and run for a similar period.

What is Festive Surprise?

Festive Surprise is the Christmas event that Rockstar run each year to celebrate the festive season.

GTA Online Festive Surprise
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'TIS THE SEASON: Festive Surprise is Rockstar's Christmas event

Last year, Rockstar explained:

"Los Santos is getting into the holiday spirit in a big way.

"Local businesses, including The Diamond Casino & Resort, are decking their halls with towering trees, boughs of holly and wreaths of glittering tinsel.

"Retail workers have been driven halfway insane stocking the shelves with crate after crate of holiday-themed clothing, accessories and weaponry.

"And Weazel News' crackpot weather team have even forecast a rare spate of snowfall in the coming days, meaning you and your buddies can get together and indulge in an honest-to-goodness, old-fashioned snowball fight."

Expected Content

Alongside the usual content we see in the weekly update, such as new podium cars, discounts and Twitch/Amazon Prime Membership bonuses, Rockstar tends to release some extra festive content.

GTA Online Festive Surprise Content
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THROWBACK: Rockstar will likely throw in some extra festive goodies

This includes free festive gear, festive gifts or bonuses on select game modes and maybe even a brand new vehicle!

Different from previous years

One point that's worth noting is we wouldn't be surprised if the Christmas event was a little lighter than previous years, as Rockstar has been working hard on the new Cayo Perico Heist, which they have stated is the biggest GTA Online update to date!

GTA Online Cayo Perico Heist
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BIGGEST EVER: GTA Online's biggest ever update is on the way

With a map expansion, it's not hard to understand why. Find out more about the new update here.