GTA 5 exploit could allow banned online players to return anonymously and cheat

A new PC exploit could open GTA Online to banned players using any number of cheats and mods - and Rockstar may not able to do anything about it.

GTA Online players on PC who have been banned from the game may soon be able to return anonymously and exploit the game with any number of mods and cheats.

A modder on the se7ensins forum claims that Rockstar is about to reintroduce a system for creating temporary characters - something that can be exploited with new code scripting.

"You can create disposable characters, cheat cash and stats and troll other players as much as you'd like and it will not be saved or recorded - this means it's basically a way to play anonymously," said modder LondonTown2004.

A similar exploit - found after Rockstar fixed the problem of disappearing characters, cash and weapons - had been used in GTA Online on PS3 and Xbox 360, notoriously turning the game's freemode sessions into chaos.

Players struggled against those using cash exploits, invincibility, invisibility and more, ruining the game experience for many.

Rockstar allows single player mods in the PC version of GTA 5 but bans players from using modded content in GTA Online.

If Rockstar was to fix such an online cheat with an update, modders could still revert to a previous version and play online with others exploiting the game.

The modder goes on to list a number of ways players will be able to exploit the game code:

• Bypassing bans, Bad Sport status, Cheater Pool status and mic mutes.
• Never worry about being banned, suspended, muted, kicked, reported or otherwise punished for exploring scripts online.
• Bypass any current bans, Bad Sport statuses, Cheater Pool status, mic mutes or any other matchmaking or game-related punishment.
• Debug the online service and test out various scripts and modding tools without being penalized.

"GTA Online will become one big playground without Rockstar Games dictating what we can and cannot do without being punished," added the modder.

Cheating, modding and griefing became a massive problem with last gen GTA Online, generating thousands of complaints to Rockstar Games.

It may be inevitable that a popular online game will see its share of modding and cheating, but it's never welcomed by those wanting to play a game clean, free from griefing and, for want of a better word, douchebaggery.