The GTA Online alien war is one of the strangest events in gaming history. Back in 2020, a simple meme spiralled into a server-wide battle between gangs of green and purple aliens. Even Rockstar got involved. Now, a viral video has brought the whole bizarre saga back into the spotlight.
How did the GTA Online alien war start?
It began in spring 2020. Groups of players started roaming Los Santos dressed in bright green alien bodysuits. They would pile out of vans, surround lone players and beat them with bats and pool cues.
The trend quickly became a meme. One popular Reddit post summed it up with a now-famous line: “You came to the wrong planet foo.” Before long, green alien gangs were showing up in lobbies everywhere.
Naturally, other players fought back. As Kotaku reported at the time, players in purple alien suits soon formed their own faction to take on the greens.
Where did the alien suits come from?
The suits weren’t new. Both the Green and Purple Martian Bodysuits came from GTA Online’s Arena War outfits. However, they normally cost more than GTA$300,000 each, so they weren’t especially common.
That rarity helped the trend feel special. Spotting a pack of green aliens became a sign that chaos was coming.
How did Rockstar join the GTA Online alien war?
Rockstar clearly loved what players were doing. In May 2020, the studio made both alien suits free for a limited time. It even shared a post encouraging players to “grab yours and join the fight.”
As a result, the war exploded. Suddenly, anyone could pick a side. Lobbies filled with green and purple aliens battling across the map, and both factions tried to claim territory around Los Santos. According to the video, some battles grew so big they caused trouble for the game’s servers.
Did other gangs join the fight?
Yes, and that made things even messier. White alien gangs appeared, along with smaller groups that turned up just to cause trouble. Some players even dressed as FIB agents and tried to wipe out every alien they could find.
Alliances changed constantly, too. Because anyone could swap outfits in seconds, former allies often turned on each other. In many ways, that unpredictability was the whole point.
Who won the GTA Online alien war?
There was never an official winner. According to the video, the war eventually ended in a draw, with neither green nor purple managing to take full control of Los Santos.
Still, the event left a lasting mark. Players remember it as one of the best examples of a community creating its own story. It happened during a quiet period for new content, so players made their own fun instead.
Could GTA 6 have its own alien war?
It’s a fun question to ask. GTA has a long history of chaos, both on and off screen. Rockstar even paid for the original GTA to get bad press to build hype. Meanwhile, fans keep uncovering hidden details in older games, from GTA 5’s strip club quirks to forgotten secrets.
With GTA 6 launching soon, players will have a huge new world to explore. Its online mode is expected to follow in 2027. If GTA 6’s smarter NPCs and bigger map are anything to go by, there will be plenty of room for the next player-made war.
Whatever happens, the green and purple aliens of 2020 have already earned their place in GTA history.