'GTA 5' Heists Update News: New Bombs And Weapons, Hydra Fighter Jet, And Animals Leaked In Upcoming DLC

Gamers experienced the worst gaming incident in years when a hacker group known as Lizard Squad took down PSN and Xbox Live since Christmas Eve. What do the so-called "hacktivists" expect us to do without GTA Online or CoD Team Deathmatch? Mingle with our friends and family by the Christmas tree? That's absurd! Despite the disappointing holiday, we're looking forward to what's in store for 2015. More importantly, "GTA 5" tipsters have been busy gathering as many details as possible regarding the upcoming "GTA 5" Heists update.

Earlier this month, speculation suggested that the long-awaited "GTA 5" Heists update would coincide with a Christmas DLC and finally arrive in December. However, Rockstar ultimate announced that the Heists Update would not arrive until "early 2015." Due to the lack of further information, we've yet to determine whether Rockstar suggests a January release.

"GTA Online Heists are coming early in 2015 - check out the new trailer for the four-player co-op mode for Grand Theft Auto Online that allows players to plan, prepare and execute multi-tiered Heists across Los Santos and Blaine County," reported the Rockstar Newswire. "These will require tight communication and coordination, with players taking on specified roles at each point to accomplish multiple objectives on the way to each Heist’s epic finale. Featuring new gameplay, new vehicles, new weapons, new clothing and much more."

According to an interview with GTA Online producer and lead mission designer Imran Sarwar, the upcoming "GTA 5" Heists DLC promises new elements of gameplay that it will deliver. According to Sarwar, the Heists update is more conceptually and technically difficult than the original idea. Now, the GTA Online Heists update will deliver Story Mode missions to GTA Online that would create a new level of multiplayer co-op gameplay. Missions with multi-tier set-ups will provide distinct roles each of the four players so that everyone genuinely has a stake in the heist's outcome.

"A good example is the classic idea of your getaway driver, waiting outside of a bank for the big score. A movie might not spend too much time focusing on that person because while they are waiting, we are watching the action going down in the vault," explained Sarwar. "In a similar situation in Story Mode, we could use a character switch to make sure the player was always in the center of the action and switch back to the driver later. But to make this work for multiple players, we needed to create situations where the driver has something interesting to do at exactly the same time the rest of their team are locking down the bank and making their way to the money."

Previously, we mentioned the new missions available and also explained the mission payouts and the mechanics of the team co-op gameplay. Now, we've learned new details about the new weapons, vehicles, and items that will be available when the Heists gameplay finally arrives. In particular, tipster Shady Laps of the "GTA 5" Se7ensins forums revealed a number of lines of source code that reveal new items available for the "GTA 5" 1.20 update on PS3 and Xbox 360, or the 1.07 update for PS4 and Xbox One. The leaked source codes from the upcoming "GTA 5" Heists DLC are the following:

"MPHEIST/HEIST_EMP_BOMB"
"MP_HEISTS_BIOLAB_FINALE_SOUNDS"
"MP_HEIST_TUNING_DLC_CONTENT."
"MP_HEIST_LESTER_TARGET_VCLS_FEATURE."
"MP_HEIST_CLOTHING_DLC_CONTENT_OUTFITS_SLOT1_SLOT2,"
"MP_HEIST_BONUS_DLC_CONTENT_BZGAS_XM25Grenade_Launcher,"
"MP_HEIST_DLC_CONTENT_VEHICLES."
"MPHEIST_WEAPON_ATT_THERMAL."
"MPHEIST_MASK."
"MPHEIST_JEFF." [0xBBCB4AAC ]
"MP_Buy_PEGASUS_UNLOCK_TMJ_1.500.000$"
"PILOT_SCHOOL_VEHICLE_HYDRA"
"CONTENT_PACK_HEIST_ANIMALS"

Let's go straight to the mission details update: note the mention of "BioLab Finale sounds," which hints that special new sounds and environmental elements will be availalbe in the Heists DLC. What's more, the missions will introduce a new character named "Jeff" as well, who will probably become a new contact that you can call on your phone for future available missions. An additional Lester contact feature is revealed in the source code as well.

As for weapons, new source code for the EMP bomb, BZ Gas XM25 Granade Launcher, as well as the Thermal Bomb are not just additions to complete Heists missions, but will completely enhance the way gamers will duel as well. An EMP bomb, or electro-magnetic pulse bomb, will disable all electronic equipment including security cameras, communication, as well as digitally armed safes. The thermal bomb and the grenade launcher should be self explanatory given the mayhem and destruction the explosives are capable of.

For vehicles, we are excited to see a Hydra aircraft source code. In past GTA games, the Hydra VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) fighter jet dominated the airspace of San Andreas and Liberty City. Tipsters also suggest the possibility of military armored vehicles including the APC tank. In line with the new military grade weapons, fighter planes, and a tank, characters are also slated to receive new combat clothing, masks, and accessories as well.

Last but not least, a new DLC Heist source code titled Heist animals has been leaked as well. Details are limited, but given the nature of Heists missions, it will be interesting to see police animals like the K-9 or even police horses in the new DLC. Be sure to stay tuned as we learn more. Check out the latest video from DomisLive's new channel to learn more about the source code details: