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Rockstar Games recently surprised Grand Theft Auto Online players by removing the Easy Way Out option in the game’s latest update without any official announcement. This feature had allowed players to force their characters to die and respawn in the world if they were stuck in certain situations. While the patch notes for GTA Online’s 1.68 update didn’t mention the removal of Easy Way Out, dataminers like Tez2 discovered its absence from the player interaction menu following the update’s release on December 12.
Players initially expressed concerns about the missing feature, but Rockstar Universe and other GTA-focused accounts pointed out that players can still initiate their character’s death by accessing the Kill Yourself option via the game’s pause menu, under the ‘Options’ tab in the ‘ONLINE’ section.
For those who prefer to avoid using such options, GTA Online offers the Passive Mode, granting invincibility but restricting players from harming others. However, this mode has had its issues, including exploits allowing players to attack each other despite being in Passive Mode.
The removal of Easy Way Out from the player interaction menu sparked confusion and frustration among players, akin to the backlash CD Projekt Red faced after the significant gameplay changes in Cyberpunk 2077’s update 2.0. Notably, CD Projekt Red was transparent about the changes, unlike the lack of communication from Rockstar Games regarding the removal of this GTA Online feature.
Despite the controversy, Rockstar Games’ recent update, dubbed The Chop Shop, introduced substantial content and enhancements to GTA Online. The update included new robbery missions featuring Yusuf Amir from GTA 4’s The Ballad of Gay Tony DLC, among other additions and improvements.
While the removal of the Easy Way Out feature may have stirred player discontent, Rockstar Games continues to roll out updates and new content, aiming to enrich the GTA Online experience for its vast player base.