Michael De Santa, one-third of the iconic GTA 5 trio alongside Trevor Philips and Franklin Clinton, is finally making his way back to GTA Online. He looks a bit more weathered than we remember from the main campaign, and it seems he is set to play a pivotal role in this new narrative chapter.

Rockstar Games dropped the trailer for the 'Sanctuary on the Hill' update on their official YouTube channel back on December 6. The real showstopper here is, of course, the return of Michael—the only member of the original trio who has been suspiciously absent from the online fold until now. In the clip, Michael and his wife welcome the player to the neighbourhood, though he seems a bit rattled. From grumbling that 'there was nothing about this in the user manual' to warning the player that 'if my wife asks, you did it all,' he is clearly up to his old tricks. We will have to jump into the update ourselves to see how this drama unfolds.

As you likely know, GTA Online is the multiplayer titan built upon the foundation of GTA 5, receiving regular injections of fresh content. While Trevor and Franklin have already made their mark in the online space, this marks Michael's debut. Fans are understandably buzzing, and this long-awaited return is adding fuel to the theory that all three protagonists surviving is the definitive 'true ending' of the base game.

The 'Sanctuary on the Hill' update, which finally brings Michael back to the fold after 12 years, goes live on December 10. The update introduces a sprawling palace in the most upscale part of Los Santos, which you can customise to your heart's content. On top of that, expect new missions revolving around dismantling a massive surveillance network, plus a fresh batch of vehicles to tear up the streets with.