Rockstar nerfs GTA Online's P-996 LAZER and Hydra jets in the new background update

GTA Online background updates always aim to improve the user experience, and it looks like Rockstar Games wants to leave no stone unturned. According to a recent report by renowned insider Tez2 on Twitter, the developers have discreetly released a couple of updates that made significant changes in the popular multiplayer game. As promised in the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC, the Hydra and P-996 LAZER have been nerfed to balance gameplay. Many other gameplay improvements have also been noted in the past two days.

Hydra and P-996 LAZER get nerfed in the latest GTA Online background updates by Rockstar

As can be seen in the above-mentioned tweet, Tez2 shared a breakdown of changes made to the GTA Online vehicles P-996 LAZER and Hydra. These are part of the gameplay improvements and quality-of-life changes that Rockstar promised in the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC update.

Here’s what’s changed for them in GTA Online Freemode:

1) Explosions Type

Non-freemode: Grenade
Freemode: Balanced Cannons

2) Blast Radius

Non-freemode: 5 meters
Freemode: 2 meters

3) Rate of Fire

Non-freemode: 1500 RPM
Freemode: 480 RPM

4) Distance Damage

Non-freemode: Receives full damage regardless of distance
Freemode: Damage scales depending on the distance

5) Chance of Survivability:

Non-freemode: One-shot
Freemode: ~2-3 Jet Strafes

Later on the same day, Tez2 reported more gameplay changes and bug fixes in the game. According to them, Rockstar has implemented the following tweaks in the game this week:

Fixed the infamous insurance removal bug, fixing it for all personal vehicles of the players
Fixed a bug in the Project Overthrow mission “Falling In” that was causing the cargo crates to clip through the ground
Fixed a major bug in the Last Dose mission “Unusual Suspects” that was causing the Lost Leader not to talk
Fixed bugs in all First Dose and Last Dose missions, which were the reason behind the difficulty check not working
Fixed a bug in the mission “LSA Operation – Direct Action” that was causing the Toreador to stuck inside the vehicle

Apart from the above-mentioned fixes, the latest GTA Online update also patches the Solo No Ragdoll glitch. Players can also expect to see more vehicles removed from the game, as hinted by last week's Rockstar Newswire.

About the author

Neeraj, a Grand Theft Auto writer, has penned over a thousand articles for Sportskeeda in the last two years, amassing an impressive 5+ million views. His dedication to the craft has earned him the title of a content specialist under the Esports & Gaming division. Previously, he was a senior analyst at media software company Cision, where he worked on projects for clients like Sony PlayStation.

With a Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication (PGJMC), and drawing inspiration from video game streamers like Ryukahr, Neeraj is committed to delivering top-notch content and setting a high standard for his team. He verifies information using both primary and secondary sources to ensure reader satisfaction.

Grand Theft Auto was Neeraj’s entry point into the world of video games, and he is still devoted to Rockstar Games' beloved franchise. He has played multiple generations of the series’ titles, from the 3D Universe entries to the modern HD classics. Neeraj believes that GTA Vice City is ideal for beginners looking to get familiar with the open-world genre.

Away from gaming, Neeraj finds delight in the comedic escapades of TV series like The Big Bang Theory.

Know More

Edited by Siddharth Satish