GTA 5 mod transforms Story Mode with dynamic factions, bounty hunting and new activities

GTA V expands with this free mod that enhances the player experience in Los Santos by improving Story Mode, adding dynamic factions, new missions, events, a whole host of quality-of-life improvements and much more.

Without question, GTA V is one of the most popular video games of all time and one of the biggest names in entertainment, as reflected by its ever-increasing sales and mighty 97 Metacritic score.

While PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S gamers are looking forward to GTA VI on November 19, 2026, Rockstar Games is yet to announce a PC release date. Hopefully, PC gamers will be waiting no longer than a year for its arrival (we hope).

Thankfully, GTA V is still a fantastic game, and PC players can take advantage of a wealth of free mods.

Free GTA 5 mod completely changes the PC experience

The mod in question is called ‘Urban Frontier - SP Gameplay Overhaul’, developed by BearWithMe, and it’s free to download now via NexusMods. This mod was released on September 15, but was recently updated to make even more improvements.

“Urban Frontier turns story mode into a living, reacting world. Factions operate across the city — dealing, meeting, moving product — and every NPC is a persistent character with traits and inventory,” reads the description of the mod.

“An overhaul/feature pack made by stitching together multiple systems, some of them with quite radical gameplay changes, in an attempt to make single-player more enjoyable and immersive.”

As is the case with all versions of Grand Theft Auto V, mods are exclusive to the PC port. It’s also worth noting that this mod has been tested and developed using the ‘Legacy 1.70’ version.

READ MORE: GTA 5 gets huge new Narco War expansion adding an entirely new criminal operation

Everything this free GTA 5 mod adds to Story Mode

GTA V 'Urban Frontier' mod, BearWithMe (via Nexusmods)/Rockstar Games

Identity System

• Citizens now react and usually rat you out for everything illegal, sometimes even suspicious things such as wearing a mask or carrying a large weapon.
• Aim at witnesses to intimidate them
• Wear a mask to conceal your identity to avoid being terrorised by police on every other street
• Higher reward, higher the chance police recognise you on the street
• Pay off your wanted reward at FIXER

Police & Wanted System Rework

• Police now roam the world, scanning for wanted cars and people
• If identified, the police response force will be according to the character's wanted level

Vehicle Ownership

• Most vehicles are now locked; some use an alarm immobiliser. Purchase HOTWIRE KITS and CODEBREAKERS to steal cars
• Personal vehicles and vehicles around the player are persisted; works on reload too
• Stolen vehicles will be reported and have their plate marked by police scanners
• Vehicles now need keys
• Pay off vehicle wanted plate at FIXER
• Owned vehicles can be delivered for a fee from personal menu

Dealership

• Two car dealerships (for now) with rotating inventories and sometimes pre-customised vehicles
• Destroyed vehicles are lost forever
• The last used unowned vehicle should stay saved even after reloading the game.

Inventory System

• Carry weapons, ammo, tools, and consumables with weight limits and stacking.
• Replenish health, armour, and energy using items.
• Purchased weapons and gear in this form have to be unpacked in the personal menu. Can be packed back.

Faction Events

• Drug dealer
• Gear and weapons dealer
• Stolen items buyout fence
• Gang meet
• Weapons and drugs buyout at premium price

Activities

• Racing League - race for money or pink slips. Every evening 18:00-01:00
• Chop Shops - deliver stolen vehicles to shops for some money, long cooldowns
• Bounty Hunting - killing characters with a bounty can earn you loads of cash but is also quite risky; with new systems and police, it's much harder to lose.
• Robbery - Hold characters at gunpoint to steal their stuff. Quite intuitive.

World

• Characters now have names, traits, inventories and randomised vitality and combat skills - full-on Rimworld style, stuff implemented from an unfinished game I was developing.
• Various time-limited events such as Drug Deal, Discount Seller or Buyout, Gear Dealer and Gathering.
• Race for money and pink slips at Racing League

Survival Elements

• You now lose everything on death: weapons, money and inventory
• Characters need to sleep; if they run out of energy, they faint. Sleep in a car or vehicle. Sleep option available in the personal menu, Skyrim style. The system checks out how populated the area is. Chance of being attacked.

Hideout

• Garage at Strawberry with STASH and WEAPONS WORKSHOP can be rented at FIXER
• If rent is not paid, the garage will not unlock after the player returns.