The next completely free content update for GTA Online is coming on Sept. 15 — and much like the Heists update that preceded it, this latest one adds an entirely new layer to the game: Freemode Events.

These public activities play out in the game's shared "Freemode" space, where up to 30 players can run around the game's open world doing whatever the hell they want. These new Events bring some structure to the disarray, encouraging players to get involved and occasionally form impromptu alliances. As always, the dangling carrot that keeps you hooked is a sweet infusion of cash and reputation.

We've already given you an on-the-ground peek at what to expect on Sept. 15, but Rockstar Games also gave Mashable the opportunity to ask Rockstar North Director of Design Imran Sarwar a few questions about what's new in an email exchange. Here's what he had to tell us.

What are Freemode Events?

Freemode Events add another layer of gameplay options to an already deep online experience. They add some structured gameplay, more lucrative rewards, and bring exciting new game modes seamlessly into the open-world without loading screens or lobbies. They blend the idea of freeform gameplay with fun structured events in ways we haven’t achieved before.

How often do Events occur and how much control do players have over which ones become available?

A new Freemode Event will start every 12 minutes in the open-world. They are split into two types with insane stunt challenges like performing the longest jump, to more structured gameplay events like Hunt the Beast. The challenges are great fun and test players’ skills in some really unique ways.

Events will alternate between these challenge-based offerings and the more structured events, so players don’t know what’s next — all while moving around the map in creative new ways. Freemode Events are also fully customizable, so you can tailor your experience to exactly which events you want to play using the Player Interaction Menu.

How does the introduction of these new Events change up the flow of online play?

They should really shake things up in a massive way -– they help transform the way you experience the game overall. Before, a player might drop into the world and drive around to find some action. Now, there might be an activity already in progress for them to jump into straight away. Even if an event is midway in progress, players can still move about the world, follow the action and see what’s going on.

Events and challenges are also great for players to work together. For example, in a checkpoint challenge, players can team up to cover ground more quickly and then split their cash winnings at the end. We can’t wait to see all the creative solutions the community will come up with.

What were some of the pain points in earlier versions of Freemode that led to the creation of Events?

Freemode Events were always something we wanted to add to the experience. We have a ton of ideas along these lines, but they take time and resources to come together. The opportunities [that] the newer platforms provide, from a technical standpoint, have also allowed us to start delivering on some of these ideas with more to come.

How do rewards work with Freemode Events? How do they compare to rewards earned from jobs, PvP, or heists?

Jobs and Heists are slightly easier to balance rewards and set payouts given their more traditional structures. In Freemode Events there are countless variables to consider that have an effect on Cash and RP rewards -– things like the amount of players involved, the time limit on certain challenges, what the scores are from the top three players versus the rest, etc.

However, all players who participate in a Freemode Event or Challenge will receive an RP and Cash award regardless of their final standing. Some of these activities can also have players go through a lot of ammunition or cause damage to personal vehicles. We want players to feel incentivized for playing, so the rewards at a base level will cover ammunition and vehicle repair expenses.

Obviously, the higher up the leaderboard you place, the greater the reward. We think all players will reap the benefits.

Is it possible to participate in Freemode Events while you're in Passive Mode? Are there new punishments in place specifically for griefers that mess with Events?

Yes. In specific Events, such as Kill List, Time Trials, and Penned In, Passive Mode is automatically enabled for all participants to limit griefing from non-participating players.

For other, more combat-oriented Events, Passive Mode will not be allowed for any of the participants. Prior to the start of these Events, any player currently in Passive Mode will be notified that they must disable their Passive status in order to join. If a player attempts to enable Passive Mode during an Event already in progress, a warning notification will alert them that they can no longer participate if they become Passive.

Do you have any tips for players that like to maximize their cash? Any good money-earning Events they should watch for specifically?

The absolute best tip is to play the objective. You won’t earn much cash if you’re off on the other side of the map, away from the action. And scoring scales differently across the various game modes, but actively playing the objective is the best way to ensure you’re maximizing your potential reward.

Another tactic mentioned is teaming up with fellow players. Splitting a top-tier cash reward can be more lucrative than finishing near the bottom of the leaderboard.

There are also two new Adversary Modes coming in this update. How do those work?

Yes, also included in the update are two new types of Adversary Modes, which we first introduced in the Heists update. The new variants are called Cross the Line and Hunting Pack. Both of these modes continue our original theme, with Adversary Modes to create small-scale skirmishes that pit players against each other in unique ways.

Hunting Pack splits players into two teams: attackers and defenders. The defenders' job is to protect the runner –- a player assigned to a large, unwieldy, explosives-rigged vehicle that must maintain a minimum speed to prevent the charges from blowing. The attackers’ job is to stop the vehicle at any cost, but without the use of weapons.

Cross the Line is another mode, for two teams whose goal is to cross the line into enemy territory. The entire team must make it across alive to win. The zone between the team lines acts as a neutral zone with two power weapons to battle over. If at the end of the timer no team has managed to cross the enemy’s line then it enters sudden death.

We already know that Rockstar Editor rounds out the update, making its first appearance on consoles. How does it differ from the PC editor?

The Rockstar Editor is something we’re really proud of. The GTA community is so creative and talented that we’re continually amazed by the sheer volume of outstanding quality videos. There are some astronomical YouTube numbers out there, and we really believe the Editor further connects that community and helps everyone share their creations.

The Rockstar Editor for consoles will be feature parity with the PC version and the update will also bring some new features for all 3 platforms, like adding ambient audio and a sound effects library, integrating Snapmatic and much more.

We're told this update is skipping PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Have we seen the last of free content updates for the older consoles? Is it that they just can't handle this newer stuff anymore?

The Freemode Events update will be the first to come to PS4, Xbox One, and PC only. We managed to pack in two years’ worth of free updates onto the older platforms, but after the release of Heists we started to run into some very real memory constraints. We knew moving forward that the game’s online performance could be in jeopardy if we continued to pile in new content. But after some creative programming, we were able to deliver the two-part Ill-Gotten Gains update.

Moving forward, we knew that we could not make any more meaningful updates without putting the stability of the entire game at risk. By focusing on the opportunity with these newer platforms, it will allow us to do some exciting stuff in the future, and the Freemode Events update is just the beginning.