14 DAY TRIAL // Rockstar Games confirms that it's extending the Grand Theft Auto 5 Online celebrations that were set to be available only on Christmas day due to ongoing outages experienced by the PlayStation Network and the Xbox Live services, which prevented console owners from actually partaking in the multiplayer mode.
Grand Theft Auto 5 launched back in September of last year for the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles, and rolled out onto the PS4 and Xbox one last month, delivering even more features, not to mention the same open world and the top-notch multiplayer mode.
For the winter holidays, developer Rockstar Games rolled out the Festive Surprise update, which included not just snow for the open world but also plenty of new items and gear for the multiplayer mode. From a homing missile launcher to proximity mines, a snowball fight mini-game, and Christmas-themed masks or clothing options, GTA Online players can enjoy many new things in their game.
Christmas was supposed to bring more goodies
Among the special activities organized by Rockstar were giveaways for certain days, including Christmas, on December 25, as all those who logged into GTA Online were supposed to get some sweet loot.
Unfortunately, as many console owners noticed on Christmas and in the following days, the online services for the devices, either PSN or Xbox Live, were offline for lengthy periods of time, due both to the rush of new users but also DDoS attacks from malicious hacker groups.
Rockstar is extending the Christmas bonuses
As you can imagine, besides not being able to play their games online, plenty of console owners were also unable to get their rewards in the GTA 5 multiplayer mode, as they weren't able to log into it due to the offline services.
Rockstar has noticed their plight and confirms on its Support Twitter that it's extending the duration of the special Christmas day bonuses indefinitely, so that everyone can take advantage of them when both the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live become available.
As such, once you do manage to log into the PSN or Xbox Live services, and then into the Grand Theft Auto 5 multiplayer mode, be sure to check your inventory for a few surprises from Rockstar. The items will be yours to keep, in addition to the many other things added by the Festive Surprise update to GTA 5.
It's unclear when the offer expires, so you might want to keep trying to get online with your consoles before Rockstar stops the limited time bonuses.
Due to issues with PSN & XBL connectivity, we're extending the GTA Online Festive Surprise Christmas Day inventory gifts for the time being.
— Rockstar Support (@RockstarSupport) December 26, 2014
