While the GTA V Update v1.53 patch is primarily focused on bug fixes, stability improvements, and performance enhancements, there are a few new features and changes worth mentioning:
The most significant achievement of Update v1.53 was the drastic reduction in story mode and online loading times. The Community Discovery
An issue preventing players from adding spoilers to the Ocelot Pariah—a top-tier supercar—was resolved. Cayo Perico Stability:
In this article, we'll take a closer look at what's new and improved in GTA V Update v1.53, and what players can expect from this latest patch.
, released on February 10, 2021, arrived as a stealth patch aimed at solving critical stability issues, exploits, and performance bottlenecks across PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. While it lacked the flashing marketing of standard seasonal DLC, this under-the-hood maintenance patch profoundly shifted how the base game operated—most notably integrating a community-built fix that drastically slashed loading screen times. GTA V Update v1.53
Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) has been a phenomenal success since its release in 2013, with a vast and dedicated player base that continues to drive the game's popularity to this day. To keep the game fresh and exciting, Rockstar Games regularly releases updates, patches, and new content for GTA V. The latest update, GTA V Update v1.53, has been rolled out, and in this article, we'll dive into what you can expect from this new patch.
On , a subsequent update under the 1.53 banner brought a legendary fix. Rockstar officially addressed a long-standing issue plaguing PC players: the abysmally slow initial loading times for GTA Online , which could sometimes last over seven minutes. The solution came from a modder known as t0st (or tostercx), who had publicly identified the inefficient code. Following the patch, players reported loading times dropping to just 1-2 minutes . In the official patch notes, Rockstar acknowledged t0st's contribution.
Rockstar Games adopted the community fix to optimize this data parsing loop.
For nearly a decade, GTA Online players shared a universal grievance: the agonizingly long initial loading screens, which often took anywhere from five to fifteen minutes. Update v1.53 tackled this issue head-on by adopting a solution discovered by a resourceful community member known as "t0st." While the GTA V Update v1
Business Battles were introduced in the After Hours update, but v1.53 expanded them to the coastline. Players now had to intercept a carrying high-value cargo. This required the use of amphibious vehicles (like the Blazer Aqua or the Avisa) or a well-aimed Buzzard attack. Destroying the ship’s defenses rewarded the crew with exclusive trade prices for the new vehicles.
Fixed an exploit where prep equipment became uncollectable if dropped in water. How to Verify Installation
Unlike the usual scheduled updates on Thursdays, the first major 1.53 patch made a surprise drop on . The update’s file size varied dramatically depending on your platform, leading to some community speculation:
Beyond the loading optimization, Update v1.53 resolved several long-standing networking and gameplay bugs. Networking and Performance , released on February 10, 2021, arrived as
"t0st" wrote a custom code fix that reduced their own loading times by nearly 70%. After publishing the findings online, Rockstar Games officially verified the fix, thanked the programmer, and awarded them $10,000 through their Bug Bounty program. Patch v1.53 officially integrated this community-made code rewrite into the game launcher. Patch Notes and Technical Changes
For those who want to dive deeper into the details of the update, here are the full patch notes for GTA V Update v1.53:
A new purchasable property that adds 15 storage slots to existing Smuggler Hangars. 2. New Missions & Gameplay
The reception to update v1.53 was overwhelmingly positive, a rarity for long-running live-service games.