GTA 5 Online: Rockstar Hunts Down Cheaters with Maintenance Updates and Hot Fixes

Rockstar Games has taken up a firm stand to clean up the online version of GTA 5 by introducing maintenance updates and hot-fixes into the game periodically. Following its recent maintenance work that ended on 16 January, Rockstar has provided a status update on their Newswire stating that the servers had been restored to normalcy and gamers could start logging into GTA Online after rebooting the game once.

Here is a brief of Rockstar's announcement on Newswire, following the completion of maintenance update on 16 January:

"In recent weeks, a small number of Grand Theft Auto Online players sought to exploit the game by generating and distributing game-breaking amounts of in-game cash, disrupting the experience for other players.

"We will continue to issue title updates on an ongoing basis to counter the negative impact this has had on gameplay, and as part of today's maintenance period, we are removing the counterfeit GTA$ from the game's economy. Anyone who innocently received GTA$ as a result of these exploits but did not engage in cheating to acquire it will not face any further action - the funds will just be removed, and you'll be able to keep any items you currently own."

Rockstar warns that cheaters caught for malpractices such as exploiting the glitches in game or accruing illegitimate money through illegal mods or hacks will be subjected to various penalties including being placed in isolated cheater pools or banned from GTA Online forever.

GTA Online gamers are also encouraged by Rockstar to report cheating and other illegitimate activities through the in-game reporting feature.

How to Report Cheating and Illegitimate Money in GTA Online

Just go to Pause menu under the Online tab, select Players and then scroll and choose the offending player's name from the list. Now, select Report and choose Exploits from the violation options. Submit the report and you are done.

Rockstar has apologised to the GTA community for bearing with all the maintenance issues and disruptions from cheaters/hackers while playing online and thanked its fans for their continued patronage over the years.

"We're grateful for the community's continued support in dealing with these issues and once again apologize to anyone that has had their Grand Theft Auto Online experience sullied by these exploits that broke the game's natural flow. Please stay tuned for lots more news about GTA Online in the weeks ahead."