Not to be confused with Night Vision
Thermal-vision goggles are equipment used in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online. The thermal-vision goggles closely resemble the night vision goggles also used in the game, sharing the exact same model and HUD icon.
Overview
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The goggles allow the player to see the heat signatures given off by people and vehicles. When used, the game world will appear in a variety of blue, purple, pink, and red hues, blue representing cold areas and red representing hot areas.
After equipping the goggles, it is possible to switch to another weapon and even drive vehicles while retaining the thermal vision goggles' effects. Like the night-vision goggles, the goggles uses the same goggles design and is best suited for use at night. However, moving around while "wearing" the goggles can be confusing and potentially hazardous due to cooler landscape areas and buildings "blending" together. They are first used in the mission "Black Project".
Grand Theft Auto V
Thermal vision is unobtainable during normal gameplay. It does however appear as a thermal scope attachment on a Heavy Sniper that Michael uses in the missions Predator and Derailed.
Grand Theft Auto Online
Thermal vision can now be bought and used in Free Mode using the Thermal Scope on the Heavy Sniper Mk II (which can be toggled on and off with the weapon accessory key), as well as part of the Quad Lens Combat Helmets included with the Smuggler's Run update (which is toggled via the interaction menu, similarly to the Night Vision Goggles). It can also be used in the Beast vs. Slasher and Dawn Raid Adversary missions. It has the advantage of being able to turn on or off accordingly without the delay of being equipped or unequipped in the Adversary Mode and the Thermal Scope, as well as having a longer render distance than even the Advanced Scope; unfortunately, it has the disadvantage of limiting the player's vision, with the player being mostly unable to determine whether there is an object in between the sniper and the target.
Prior to the 1.42 update, Thermal Vision was able to be exploited by allowing players to see and shoot NPCs or other players through intervening walls or obstacles. After the update, Thermal Vision has been changed so targets will no longer render through walls, making it much harder to spot them.
Locations
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Mulholland, Los Santos - Inside Madd Dogg's Crib, in a room near the studio, beside some speakers.
- Garcia, San Fierro - Inside Zero RC.
- The Big Ear, Bone County - Around the base of the satellite dish, usually beside a Sandking.
- Area 69, Bone County - Inside a control room (Instant 5-star wanted level).
Grand Theft Auto Online
- Can be purchased from a clothing store between $47000 and $100000.
- May be applied to the Heavy Sniper Mk II after the Thermal Scope Research for $???.
Gallery
Trivia
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- These goggles can be only obtained once, because they never respawn. Whether this was intentional or a glitch is unknown.
Grand Theft Auto Online
- There is a visual glitch where flares are completely invisible when Thermal Vision is turned on.