GTA Online’s A Safehouse in the Hills update isn’t just about luxury—it’s about conspiracy. The first KnoWay Out mission, “Negative Press,” throws you headfirst into corporate espionage against a shady surveillance network disguised as a taxi service. Here’s your step-by-step blueprint for ruining KnoWay’s reputation while unlocking the path to Michael De Santa’s explosive comeback.
Table of Contents
GTA Mission Overview: Your First Assignment for Avi
After answering Avi Schwartzman’s mysterious payphone call in Alta (near the Suburban store), Negative Press kicks off the five-mission saga. This opener tasks you with infiltrating KnoWay’s depot, hijacking their autonomous vehicles, and causing city-wide chaos to destroy the company’s public image.
The good news? No mansion purchase required. Any player can access this content immediately by following the yellow “A” marker on the map and answering payphones scattered across Los Santos.
Mission Objectives Breakdown
| Phase | Objective | Difficulty | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Infiltrate KnoWay depot | Easy | Stealth optional; guards don’t call reinforcements |
| Phase 2 | Enter test pod and drive out | Easy | Simply drive through exit |
| Phase 3 | Complete 3 reputation tasks | Medium | Ram vehicles twice; use ramps for billboards |
| Phase 4 | Destroy robotaxi | Easy | Gas station explosions work great |
| Phase 5 | Destroy depot vehicles | Medium | Shoot remaining 3 robotaxis |
| Phase 6 | Lose cops and reach dead drop | Easy | Standard 2-star wanted level |
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Step 1: Infiltrate the KnoWay Depot
Drive to the marked KnoWay facility and enter on foot. Security is surprisingly lax—only a handful of guards patrol the interior. You can eliminate them silently by shooting in sequence, or go loud without worrying about reinforcements. Even triggering alarms doesn’t complicate things significantly.
Step 2: Access the Test Pod
Once the coast is clear, locate the KnoWay test pod inside the garage. This autonomous SUV becomes your tool for corporate sabotage. Enter it and drive outside—the garage doors open automatically.
Step 3: Execute Three Reputation-Damaging Tasks
Now comes the fun part. The game randomly assigns three objectives designed to humiliate KnoWay publicly. These can include:
- Destroying KnoWay Billboards: Look for billboard structures around the city with conveniently placed ramps nearby. Drive full speed up the ramp and crash through the billboard itself (hitting the pole doesn’t count).
- Disabling Other Robotaxis: Hunt down moving KnoWay vehicles throughout Los Santos. Two hard collisions disable each taxi—aim for T-bone impacts at high speed for maximum efficiency.
- Causing Traffic Accidents: Ram civilian vehicles aggressively to create multi-car pileups that reflect poorly on KnoWay’s “safe” technology.
Step 4: Destroy Your Vehicle
With reputation tasks complete, it’s time to ditch your ride dramatically. Drive into a gas station and ram the pumps for a cinematic explosion, or simply crash repeatedly until the vehicle health (bottom right corner) depletes to zero.
Step 5: Clear Out Depot Vehicles
After abandoning the test pod, you’re teleported back to the KnoWay depot. Three more robotaxis remain inside—destroy them using weapons or explosives to eliminate evidence.
Step 6: Evade Police and Complete Dead Drop
Leaving the depot triggers a standard 2-star wanted level. Lose the cops using your preferred method, then drive to Avi’s dead drop location (marked on your map). Open the trunk of his Felon GT parked at the designated spot, then answer the nearby payphone to complete Negative Press.
Rewards and Career Progression
Completing Negative Press awards standard contact mission payouts (varies by difficulty setting). More importantly, it unlocks the yellow “A” marker for mission #2: Inside Job. Finish all five KnoWay Out missions to earn a massive $525,000 bonus from Avi, plus eligibility for the Michael De Santa finale mission.
Track your progress via the Career menu: Options > Career > Contact Missions > KnoWay Out. Rockstar also offers first-time completion bonuses during special event weeks, potentially doubling your take.
Pro Tips for Smooth Completion
Bring Armored Vehicles: While not required, using an Imani Tech vehicle with Missile Lock-On Jammer for travel between objectives saves time and hassle.
Ignore Stealth Requirements: The depot infiltration doesn’t penalize loud approaches—go weapons-free if you prefer efficiency over style.
Use Explosives for Depot Cleanup: Sticky bombs or grenades eliminate the three remaining robotaxis instantly rather than wasting ammo.
Gas Station Strategy: For destroying your test pod, gas stations guarantee instant mission completion without tedious collision grinding.
Play with Friends: While soloable, bringing crew members speeds up the multi-tasking phases considerably. Plus, everyone earns payouts.
What Comes Next?
Negative Press is just the beginning. The remaining four missions—Inside Job, Tunnel Vision, Trash Talking, and A Clean Break—escalate the conspiracy with FIB infiltration, data heists, and explosive setpieces. Complete them all to unlock the exclusive Michael De Santa mission “Home Sweet Home,” where you’ll defend your mansion alongside the legendary heist veteran.
Don’t own a mansion yet? No worries—you can complete the entire KnoWay Out series first, then purchase property from Dynasty 8 Executive’s Prix Luxury website later. The Michael mission requires mansion ownership, but Avi’s missions are accessible to everyone.
FAQs
Q: Do I need to own a mansion to start Negative Press?
No! The KnoWay Out mission series is completely separate from mansion ownership. Any GTA Online player can start Negative Press by simply loading into a session and following the yellow “A” marker to the payphone in Little Seoul. You’ll receive a text from an unknown number directing you there. However, you will need to purchase a mansion (ranging from $7-15 million) if you want to eventually unlock the Michael De Santa mission “Home Sweet Home” after completing all five KnoWay Out missions.
Q: Can I replay Negative Press for additional payouts?
Yes, all KnoWay Out missions can be replayed through the Jobs menu or by calling up the mission from your phone’s Quick GPS after initial completion. However, the massive $525,000 bonus payment from Avi is a one-time reward for completing the entire five-mission series for the first time. Replaying individual missions grants standard contact mission payouts based on difficulty, time, and performance. During Rockstar’s special event weeks, these missions sometimes offer 2x or 3x cash/RP bonuses, making replays worthwhile for grinding.
