While both the 1.64 and 1.66 updates for Grand Theft Auto V were significant, they served very different purposes. Update 1.64, known as the Los Santos Drug Wars, was a massive content expansion. In contrast, update 1.66 was a critical security and stability patch that focused on making the game safer to play on PC. GTA V Update 1.64: The Content Heavyweight
Released in December 2022, Update 1.64 transformed Los Santos with a wave of new gameplay features.
New Businesses & Missions: It introduced The Freakshop, a social space for launching the new First Dose Story Missions. Players also gained access to the Acid Lab, a mobile business housed in the back of the MTL Brickade 6x6.
Visual Upgrades (Next-Gen): For players on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, Update 1.64 added ray-traced reflections in Fidelity Mode, drastically improving the look of water, vehicles, and other glossy surfaces. Quality of Life Improvements:
Phone Contact Favorites: You can now hide unnecessary contacts from your in-game phone.
Solo Play: Agatha Baker’s Casino Story Missions became playable with just one person.
Mechanic Requests: Bicycles can finally be requested through the Mechanic.
Economy Boosts: Rewards for Smuggler's Run Sell Missions were permanently tripled. GTA V Update 1.66: The Security Essential
Released in February 2023, Update 1.66 was less about "flash" and more about "function".
PC Security Overhaul: The primary goal of 1.66 was to address a major PC exploit where hackers could corrupt or even block other players' accounts through messaging.
New Data Protocol: Rockstar implemented a new protocol to secure network sessions and player-to-player messaging.
Fixes for Exploits: It patched issues where users could abuse text chat and resolved a bug that prevented accounts from accessing GTA Online if their stats had been modified by third parties. Which One is "Better"?
Determining which update is better depends on what you value in your gameplay experience:
For Content & Visuals, 1.64 Wins: If you want more cars (like the Överflöd Entity MT), more clothes, and better graphics on next-gen consoles, 1.64 is the superior update.
For Safety & Longevity, 1.66 Wins: If you play on PC, 1.66 is arguably more important because it made the game safe to play again by removing the risk of account corruption.
Overall, Update 1.64 provided the "fun," while Update 1.66 provided the "foundation" that allows that fun to continue securely. YouTube·Saintsfanhttps://www.youtube.com
The transition from Update 1.64 to Update 1.66 in Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5)
is primarily a shift from major content expansion to critical security and stability maintenance. While 1.64 added massive gameplay features, 1.66 was essential for PC players' safety. Update 1.64: The "Los Santos Drug Wars" Expansion
Released in December 2022, this was a major content drop that significantly improved the game's depth and visual fidelity on current-gen consoles . New Content & Businesses: The Freakshop: A new social hub for launching missions .
Acid Lab: A mobile business upgrade for the MTL Brickade 6x6 .
Vehicles: Added eight new vehicles and hundreds of new clothing/accessory items . Quality of Life (QoL) Improvements:
Phone Management: Ability to hide contacts via the Interaction Menu .
Solo Missions: Agatha Baker’s Casino Story Missions can now be launched with a single player .
Vehicle Access: Bicycles can now be requested from the Mechanic like standard cars . Visual Enhancements (PS5 & Xbox Series X|S only):
Ray-Traced Reflections: Added to "Fidelity Mode," providing realistic reflections on water and glossy surfaces . Update 1.66: The "Security & Stability" Patch
Released in February 2023, this update was a "mandatory" fix rather than a content expansion. It was particularly "better" for PC players due to a game-breaking security vulnerability . Critical PC Security:
Account Protection: Fixed a dangerous exploit that allowed third parties to modify a player's GTA$ balance, RP level, or even crash/corrupt their account . gta 5 grand theft auto v update 164 166 better
Data Protocol: Implemented a new data protocol to improve security for network sessions and player-to-player messaging . Bug Fixes & Refinement:
Vehicle Mods: Fixed an issue where the TM-02 Khanjali, RCV, and Chernobog could not be modified in facilities .
Visual Fixes: Addressed an issue where car windows were missing reflections in certain graphics modes .
Stability: Resolved various crashes occurring in GTA Online across all platforms . Which Update is "Better"?
Update 1.64 ( Los Santos Drug Wars) was a massive content drop, Update 1.66
was a critical "betterment" patch that prioritized the game's health, security, and stability. The "New Content" Giant: Update 1.64
Released in December 2022, 1.64 brought the first half of the Los Santos Drug Wars
. It focused on expanding the world and giving players new ways to play and make money: Rockstar Games New Business: Introduced the , a mobile drug business housed in the MTL Brickade 6x6. Visual Overhaul: Ray-Traced Reflections
to Fidelity Mode for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, making water and shiny surfaces far more realistic. Quality of Life: Phone Contact Favorites:
Allowed players to hide annoying contacts from their in-game phone. Solo Casino Missions:
Enabled all Agatha Baker Casino Story Missions to be played solo. Bicycle Request: Added the ability to request bicycles through the Mechanic. Rockstar Games The "Security & Stability" Hero: Update 1.66
Released in February 2023, 1.66 didn't add new cars or missions but is considered "better" by many for making the game safe to play again, especially on PC: Major Security Patch:
Implemented a new data protocol to fix a massive exploit where third parties could corrupt player accounts, kick them from sessions, or crash their games. Anti-Cheat Improvements:
Addressed issues where some accounts were blocked due to modified stats from third-party "mod menus". Crash Fixes:
Focused heavily on game stability, fixing several common crashes across all platforms. Specific Bug Fixes:
Fixed a prominent issue that prevented players from modifying certain heavy vehicles like the TM-02 Khanjali in their facilities. Which is "Better"? 1.64 is better for players looking for new things to do
, better graphics on consoles, and streamlined gameplay features. 1.66 is better longevity and safety
of the game, particularly for PC players who were facing account-breaking exploits. Rockstar Games specific new vehicle or heist from the Los Santos Drug Wars era? GTAV Title Update 1.64 Notes (PS5 / PS4 / Xbox Series X
Comparing updates Grand Theft Auto V reveals they serve very different purposes: one was a massive content drop, while the other was a critical emergency "repair" for the game's infrastructure. Update 1.64: The "Los Santos Drug Wars" Content Giant
Released in December 2022, this update was primarily about expanding what you can actually do in Los Santos. New Content : Introduced the Los Santos Drug Wars
storyline, the "Freakshop" social space, and the Acid Lab business. Next-Gen Visuals Ray-Traced Reflections
to the Fidelity Mode on PS5 and Xbox Series X, making surfaces like water and car windows look significantly more realistic. Quality of Life
Added the ability to hide unwanted phone contacts through the Interaction Menu. Allowed Agatha Baker’s Casino missions to be played solo. Made bicycles requestable through the Mechanic. Update 1.66: The Essential "Security Patch"
Released in early 2023, this update was a "hotfix" specifically targeting a dangerous wave of exploits, particularly on PC. Safety First
: Its main purpose was implementing a new data protocol to fix critical security vulnerabilities
that allowed hackers to corrupt player accounts, modify stats (like GTA$ and RP), or even remotely crash games. Performance Stability While both the 1
: It fixed specific bugs where car windows were missing reflections in certain modes and resolved issues where players were incorrectly told they hadn't completed the Prologue. Which is "Better"? It depends on what you value: Update 1.64 is "better" for content
and visual upgrades. It gave players new cars, clothes, and missions. Update 1.66 is "better" for stability
. If you play on PC, this update was literally life-saving for your account, making the game safe to play online again. GTAV Title Update 1.64 Notes (PS5 / PS4 / Xbox Series X
Update 1.66 is better for security and stability, while Update 1.64 is better for content and features.
Update 1.64 was a major content expansion, whereas Update 1.66 served as a critical technical patch primarily for PC players. Key Differences
Update 1.64 (Los Santos Drug Wars): This was a massive content drop adding new story missions, the Freakshop social space, and the Acid Lab business. It also introduced ray-traced reflections for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S and various "quality of life" improvements, such as the ability to hide phone contacts.
Update 1.66 (Security Patch): This update focused almost entirely on fixing critical security vulnerabilities on PC that allowed hackers to corrupt or block player accounts. It also resolved minor visual bugs like missing car window reflections. Update Comparison
GTA 5 players frequently debate which title update delivered a better gameplay experience. This deep dive compares GTA 5 Update 1.64 (Los Santos Drug Wars) and Update 1.66 (The Last Dose / Mercenaries era patches), analyzing performance, content, and quality-of-life changes to determine which one stands out. The Core Differences
The debate between GTA 5 Update 1.64 and 1.66 comes down to content volume versus system stability and player freedom.
Update 1.64 laid the massive groundwork for the Drug Wars saga.
Update 1.66 focused on concluding that story while addressing long-standing community complaints. Update 1.64: Los Santos Drug Wars
Released in December 2022, Update 1.64 brought a massive influx of chaotic, high-energy content to Southern San Andreas. Key Features
The Acid Lab: A highly profitable, mobile business operated out of the MTL Brickade 6x6.
The Freakshop: A new social hub and base of operations for the Fooliganz.
First Dose Story Missions: Six action-packed missions introducing Dax and his crew.
New Vehicles: A wave of fresh cars, including the Declasse Tahoma Coupe.
Excellent Solo Moneymaker: The Acid Lab became the best business for solo players.
High Production Value: The missions featured trippy visuals and intense shootouts.
Steep Paywalls: Fully upgrading the Acid Lab required completing 10 Fooliganz jobs.
Pacing Issues: The drip-feed of content over the following weeks felt slow. Update 1.66: Quality of Life & Refinement
Released in early 2023 as part of the continuation of the Drug Wars and leading into the Mercenaries era, Update 1.66 was less about adding massive systems and more about fixing the game. Key Features
The Last Dose: Five concluding story missions for the Drug Wars arc.
Major QoL Changes: Easier garage management and better interaction menus.
Anti-Cheat Updates: Crucial PC security patches to prevent remote code execution exploits.
A Safer PC Experience: Fixed game-breaking security vulnerabilities on PC.
Great Payouts: Massive first-time completion bonuses for Last Dose missions. Update 1
Ocelot Virtue: Players received this top-tier electric supercar for free after completing the missions.
Less "New" Content: Felt more like a part-two expansion than a brand-new update.
Vehicle Removal Controversy: Set the stage for Rockstar removing hundreds of lesser-used cars from in-game websites. Head-to-Head Comparison 1. Money Making Winner: Update 1.64
Why: The introduction of the Acid Lab revolutionized the active grind for solo players. 2. Rewards and Perks Winner: Update 1.66
Why: Getting a fully upgradable, weaponized supercar (the Virtue) for free just by completing story missions remains one of the best rewards in GTA Online history. 3. Game Stability and Safety Winner: Update 1.66
Why: The security patches introduced during this era were mandatory to save the PC version from malicious modders. The Verdict: Which is Better?
Update 1.66 is the better update for the overall health and enjoyment of the game.
While 1.64 gave us the Acid Lab business, 1.66 gave us the incredible Ocelot Virtue for free, wrapped up a fun storyline, and fixed critical security flaws on PC. It proved that sometimes fixing the game and rewarding the player is better than just adding more businesses to grind.
You're looking for information on the updates 1.64 and 1.66 for Grand Theft Auto V. Here are some key points:
Update 1.64 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - "The Doomsday Heist"
Released on December 12, 2017, this update added:
Update 1.66 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - "After Hours"
Released on April 10, 2018, this update added:
Other improvements
Both updates brought various performance improvements, bug fixes, and stability enhancements.
Notable bug fixes in 1.66
To ensure you get the best experience, make sure to install these updates and any subsequent patches.
Would you like to know more about a specific aspect of GTA V or its updates?
There has been some confusion in the community regarding version numbers, specifically with the recent 1.69 (PS5/Xbox Series) / 1.66 (PC/PS4/Xbox One) update. Many players feel that the jump from the "Criminal Enterprises" (1.64) to the recent "Chop the Dog" (1.66) content represents a step backward in terms of content density.
Here is a detailed post analyzing whether Update 1.64 or Update 1.66 is "better" for the average player.
Build 166 relies on Vulkan extensions for the asset loading. Nvidia Driver 560.70+ and AMD Adrenalin 24.8.1+ contain specific optimizations for Build 166. Running older drivers will cause graphical glitches.
If 1.64 opened the door for solo play, Update 1.66 (The Los Santos Drug Wars update) kicked it wide open. This update introduced the Dax factory missions, which are widely considered some of the best-written and most enjoyable missions in the game's history.
The biggest "better" factor here is accessibility. Update 1.66 allowed players to manage their Acid Lab business entirely from a private lobby. You can source supplies, manage stock, and sell your product without ever entering a public server. This shift respects the player's time and creates a much more relaxed grinding experience. Add to that the insane new vehicles like the ΩTECHNIQUE (a futuristic hyperbike with unique jump capabilities), and the gameplay loop feels fresher than ever.
It isn't all sunshine in Los Santos. For every performance gain, there is a trade-off, especially if you are a modder.
If you are playing the next-gen enhanced version (introduced after Build 149), Build 164/166 optimized the software-based ray tracing. Specifically, reflections on wet roads and car mirrors now have a lower performance penalty.
This is a tangible, measurable improvement.
Since Build 164 uses the new scheduler, you should remove old command line tweaks. Go to your Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V\ folder and delete commandline.txt if it exists. Let the game auto-thread.