Grand Theft Auto Online is an online multiplayer action-adventure game created by Rockstar North and released by Rockstar Games. It was first available on October 1, 2013, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Later, it was released on November 18, 2014, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, on April 14, 2015, for Windows, and on March 15, 2022, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The game is the online part of Grand Theft Auto V. It takes place in the fictional state of San Andreas, which is inspired by Southern California. Up to 30 players can explore the open world and play cooperative or competitive game modes together.
The open-world design allows players to move freely through San Andreas, which includes open countryside and the fictional city of Los Santos, based on Los Angeles. Players control a customizable silent main character as they work to become a powerful criminal and build an empire by completing tasks given by non-playable characters. Many of these characters appear in the single-player version of the game. The story happens both months before and years after the events of the single-player campaign. The game includes cooperative missions where multiple players work together to advance the story. It also offers many side missions, events, and advanced activities like "Heists." Players can buy and manage businesses to earn money.
Grand Theft Auto Online was developed at the same time as the single-player version and was designed as a different experience that continues to change over time. When it first launched, it had many technical problems, such as broken missions and lost player data. At first, it received mixed reviews, with some critics saying it lacked direction and had repetitive tasks, while others praised its large world and open-ended gameplay. It received different year-end awards, including both "Biggest Disappointment" and "Best Multiplayer," from various gaming magazines. The game regularly gets free updates that add new features and improve the game. The 2015 "Heists" update was especially well received by critics.
Gameplay
Grand Theft Auto Online was created at the same time as Grand Theft Auto V, but it is a separate game experience that takes place in the same open world. Up to 30 players can explore the world together and join lobbies to complete missions, which include story-driven, competitive, and cooperative modes. A tool called the Content Creator lets players design their own custom activities, such as racetracks and deathmatch weapon locations. Players can form groups called crews to work together on missions. Rockstar Games Social Club allows crews from Max Payne 3's multiplayer mode to be used in Grand Theft Auto Online. Players can create their own crews and join up to five. Crews have a structure, and leaders can assign roles to members. Crews earn experience points by winning matches and can climb online leaderboards.
In Grand Theft Auto Online, players create a character specifically for the online world. This character appears on the screen’s Switch Wheel next to the single-player characters Franklin, Michael, and Trevor. The character’s appearance is designed using a process similar to genetics, and players have more control over clothing and hairstyles. The player arrives in Los Santos by plane and is picked up by Lamar Davis, who gives them a gun and a car. A one-hour tutorial teaches players about game modes, driving, fighting, and how to progress. The story is not the main focus in multiplayer, but it begins as a prequel to the single-player story, with characters from the main game appearing.
Like the single-player game, players can improve their character’s skills, such as driving and stamina. GTA Online has a system where players earn experience by completing activities. Reaching certain experience levels unlocks items like weapons, clothing, car customizations, and advanced activities (such as parachuting or flying aircraft). These items must be bought with in-game money, which can be earned or purchased with real money. Players can skip level requirements by joining games with others who meet the needed rank. Players can choose to play alone, with friends, or use "Passive Mode," which prevents other players from attacking them.
Besides the open world, there are three main types of set activities: racing (by car, bike, aircraft, or boat), Deathmatch (team or free-for-all), and objective-based Contact Missions (simple story-like jobs, usually cooperative). Online uses a targeting system and focuses on stealth during fights. "Adversary Mode" adds variations, such as "Siege Mentality," where one team is attacked by another, and "Hasta La Vista," where truckers chase cyclists (similar to a scene from Terminator 2: Judgment Day). "Survival" matches pit up to four players against waves of enemies. The Heists Update, released on March 10, 2015, added five co-op missions with multiple steps leading to high-profit jobs. The heist leader must unlock each mission and pay upfront costs, receiving the largest reward if successful. Other players can join any part of the mission and earn a share of the reward. Heists usually require four players, except the first, which needs two. Roles like driver or gunner are often assigned, and a headset is recommended for communication.
The game includes a tool that lets players create races and deathmatches. Players can choose locations, start points, weapon drops, and vehicle settings. Creations must be tested against computer-controlled players before being available online. Players can share their creations with others. Rockstar highlights the best creations as "Rockstar Verified." In December 2025, the tool was expanded with the Rockstar Mission Creator, allowing players to make custom missions with non-player characters and cutscenes.
The game receives weekly updates with new content, such as special challenges, events, Adversary Modes, and discounts on vehicles and properties. Some benefits are exclusive to members of GTA+, Rockstar’s subscription service, introduced in March 2022. Special updates are released during holidays, such as a snowy map during the holiday season.
Plot
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The story starts in 2013, a few months before the game Grand Theft Auto V. The player takes on the role of a silent character who moves to Los Santos to find new opportunities. When they arrive, they meet Lamar Davis (Slink Johnson), someone they had become friends with on the website Lifeinvader. After a race with Lamar, he introduces the player to Gerald (Douglas Powell Ward), a drug dealer, and Simeon Yetarian (Demosthenes Chrysan), an untrustworthy car dealer, for work. As the player gains more recognition, they meet people like Trevor Philips (Steven Ogg), an illegal business owner; Lester Crest (Jay Klaitz), a hacker; and Martin Madrazo (Alfredo Huereca), a Mexican drug lord, who also offer them jobs.
Later, Lester gives the player bigger jobs, such as robbing banks. Agent 14 (Ryan Farrell), a mysterious government agent, asks the player to help free a spy from prison and raid a government lab. Trevor asks for help with a profitable drug deal. Lamar also hires the player to hurt rival gangs, but this causes problems with his own group. The player helps Lamar fix things. During this time, the player builds their own criminal business, starting small and growing by buying an office and warehouses. They also start a motorcycle club and run other illegal businesses.
In 2017, the player expands their business by starting gunrunning with Agent 14 and smuggling with Ron Jakowski (David Mogentale), Trevor's old friend. Later, Lester introduces the player to Avon Hertz (Sean McGrath), a billionaire, and his AI, Cliffford, who ask for help to stop a foreign attack on the United States. The player works with the International Affairs Agency (IAA) and fights against a Russian special forces group led by Bogdan (Vyto Ruginis). However, Avon and Cliffford betray the group and plan to cause a nuclear war. The player stops them by attacking a missile base in Mount Chiliad, using Cliffford's code to prevent a missile launch, and killing Avon when he tries to run away.
In 2018, the player opens a new nightclub with "Gay" Tony Prince (David Kenner), a former nightclub owner from Liberty City, and uses it for illegal activities. They also become a top competitor in Arena War, a popular demolition derby-like TV show. The next year, the player becomes a VIP member at the Diamond Casino & Resort, owned by Tao Cheng (Richard Hsu), who is part of a crime family from Hong Kong. They help the casino deal with problems caused by Avery Duggan, a businessman trying to take over the casino. When the casino is attacked, the player kills Duggan, allowing his nephew Thornton to buy the property. Later, the player and Lester, now retired, are hired by Tao's sister, Georgina (Christina Liang), to rob the casino to get revenge on Thornton. The heist is successful, and Lester starts a relationship with Georgina.
In 2020, the player takes on new jobs for Gerald and has a short conflict with the Kkangpae, ending with the player killing the gang's leader after they attack their yacht. They are then hired by Miguel Madrazo (Robbie Gottlieb), the son of Martin Madrazo, to steal files from Juan "El Rubio" Strickler (Joseph Melendez), a top drug dealer who supplies the Madrazo Cartel. Using their new nuclear submarine and its crew, a former Russian sailor named Pavel (Brandon Beilis), the player successfully robs El Rubio's compound on a heavily guarded island in the Caribbean, called Cayo Perico.
In 2021, the player joins the LS Car Meet, a group for car lovers and racers, where they meet Kenny "KDJ" Dixon Jr. and Sessanta (Emana Rachelle), who give them robbery jobs. Lamar introduces the player to Franklin Clinton (Shawn Fonteno), who hires them as a partner in his new celebrity solutions agency. Their first big client, Dr. Dre, asks for help in recovering his stolen phone with unreleased music. The player finds the thief, Johnny Guns, and gets the music back. After helping Dr. Dre escape from Guns' hitmen and helping him take revenge, Dr. Dre lets the player listen to his new song first. Meanwhile, Lamar starts his own cannabis business, LD Organics, after feeling left out of Franklin's new business. Franklin and Lamar try to expand their business by connecting with someone from the Epsilon Program religious cult, but the person betrays them. Their actions get a lot of media attention, which Lamar uses to promote his business.
In 2022, the player is contacted by Agent ULP (Jeff Steitzer) of the IAA and becomes an agent to investigate rising gasoline prices in San Andreas. The investigation finds that Mason Duggan, Thornton's younger brother, is behind the price increase, using backup drives from Cliffford's AI to control prices and keep profits high. The player retrieves the backup drives, stops a deal between Mason and the FBI, and kills him to end the crisis. To prevent similar problems, Agent ULP sends the player to the facility where Avon and Cliffford were defeated to get the last of Cliffford's code, then cuts ties with them. The player later meets the Fooliganz, a juggalo group led by Dax (Matt Van Orden), who want to start a drug distribution ring. The player helps them take down rival groups like The Lost motorcycle club and officially joins the troupe.
In 2023, the Fooliganz's hangout is attacked by mercenaries who kidnap Dax's "personal physician," Labrat (Courtney Gains), and steal blacklisted chemicals the player had previously acquired. The player finds out that Dr. Isiah Friedlander (Bryan Scott Johnson), a therapist who now owns a pharmaceutical company, is behind the attack, using Labrat to create a new psychedelic drug for profit. The player rescues Labrat and gets the chemicals back, even though Friedlander escapes. Later, the player joins the Los Santos Angels (LSA), a flight squadron and mercenary group, to stop the operations of the rival private military company, Merryweather. Their actions greatly reduce Merryweather's presence in San Andreas and end their partnership with the U.S. government. The player also opens a salvage yard with Yusuf Amir (Omid Djalili), a real estate developer from Liberty City, and his cousin Jamal, using it as a base for planning and carrying out vehicle thefts.
In 2024, the player is contacted by Vincent Effenburger (T.L. Flint), a former security chief at the Diamond Casino & Resort who is now a police officer. Vincent tells the player about a new drug cartel working with the Los Santos Police Department (LSPD) and i
Development
Grand Theft Auto Online was released on October 1, 2013, two weeks after the launch of Grand Theft Auto V. Many players had trouble connecting to the game’s servers and the Social Club website. Some also reported that the game would freeze when loading early missions. Rockstar released a technical patch on October 5 to address these problems. The microtransaction system, which allows players to buy game content with real money, was temporarily paused as a precaution. Issues continued during the second week after launch, and some players said their character progress had disappeared. Another patch was released on October 10 to fix these problems, and players were advised not to recreate their multiplayer avatars. To compensate for the technical issues, Rockstar gave all players connected to Online since launch 500,000 in-game dollars.
In September 2015, Rockstar announced that the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Grand Theft Auto Online would no longer receive new content due to hardware limitations. This decision was criticized by a Forbes writer who argued it excluded players still using older systems and noted that the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions had limited content. In June 2021, Rockstar announced that servers for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions would shut down on December 16. Microtransactions became unavailable on September 15, and Social Club tracking ended on September 16.
In early 2021, a user named "t0st" discovered a way to reduce Grand Theft Auto Online’s loading times by up to 70% using an unofficial patch. Rockstar confirmed the patch improved load times and officially added it to the game in a March 2021 update. The company thanked the user and awarded them $10,000 through their Bug Bounty program.
A standalone version of Grand Theft Auto Online was released on March 15, 2022, with the enhanced version of Grand Theft Auto V for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. It was free on PlayStation 5 for the first three months. This version included graphical improvements, quality-of-life changes, new vehicles, an auto shop called Hao’s Special Works for vehicle upgrades, and the Career Builder, which gives players in-game money to start businesses. For a limited time, players could transfer progress from older consoles, but earned money could only be moved within the same console family (PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 or Xbox One to Xbox Series X/S). On March 4, 2025, all content from this version became available for PC through a free upgrade.
In March 2022, Rockstar introduced GTA+, a paid monthly subscription service for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Grand Theft Auto Online. It includes permanent in-game benefits, exclusive content, and access to classic Rockstar titles, such as Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, by September 2023. GTA+ became available on PC with the enhanced version of the game released on March 4, 2025.
Additional content
Post-release content is added to Grand Theft Auto Online through free title updates.
The Beach Bum update, released on November 19, 2013, added more beach-themed jobs and customization options for players. The Deathmatch & Race Creators update, released on December 11, allowed players to create their own deathmatches and races. The Capture Update, released on December 17, added a new team-based capture the flag mode called Capture. On December 24, the Holiday Gifts update added Christmas-themed items, discounts for in-game vehicles, weapons, apartments, and other items, and snowfall to the game world. All Holiday Gifts from this update were removed on January 5, 2014.
The Valentine's Day Massacre Special update, released on February 13, 2014, added Bonnie and Clyde-themed content for a limited time until the end of February. The Business Update, released on March 4, added multiple business-themed items. On April 11, the Capture Creator update allowed players to create their own Capture jobs using the Content Creator. The High Life Update, released on May 13, added new contact missions, vehicles, clothing items, weapons, apartments, the ability to own two properties at once, and the Mental State gameplay statistic, which tracks player behavior in-game. The I'm Not a Hipster update, released on June 17, added hipster-themed customization items and retro-themed vehicles and weapons.
The Independence Day Special update, released on July 1, added patriotic-themed vehicles, weapons, and customization items for a limited time. The patch also added new properties to Grand Theft Auto Online and the "On Call Matchmaking" feature, which lets players accept a job invite and keep playing until the lobby is full. The San Andreas Flight School update, released on August 19, added new features and vehicles related to the in-game flying school. The Last Team Standing update, released on October 2, added 10 new jobs, motorcycles, weapons, and creator support for the Last Team Standing game mode. On December 18, the Festive Surprise update added two new weapons, four holiday-themed vehicles, and clothing items, which were later removed on January 5, 2015. This update also allowed players to buy a third property and reintroduced snowfall to the game world.
The Heists update, which added five multi-part missions with large payouts for teams of four players, was a highly anticipated feature. It also introduced Adversary Modes, new weapons, and vehicles. The update launched on March 10, 2015, after delays and initial technical issues due to high user numbers. Ill-Gotten Gains Part 1, released on June 10, added new vehicles, clothing items, weapon decals, and minor changes like redesigned car websites and a first-person vehicle hood camera for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions. Ill-Gotten Gains Part 2, released on July 8, added vehicles, weapons, and the radio station The Lab, previously exclusive to the Windows version, to all platforms. This was the final update for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 due to hardware limitations. The Freemode Events update, launched on September 15, added new modes, activities, and the Rockstar Editor and Director Mode, previously exclusive to Windows, to Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Lowriders, released on October 10, added new missions from Lamar (Slink Johnson), new vehicles, upgrades, weapons (including the machete and machine-pistol), and clothing items. It also introduced Benny's Original Motor Works, a vehicle shop where players can customize Lowriders with interior upgrades, hydraulics, and decals. Halloween Surprise, released on October 29, added two Halloween-themed vehicles, the flashlight, masks, ornaments, and slasher-themed Adversary Modes. This content was temporarily available and removed on November 16. The Executives and Other Criminals update, released on December 15, added customizable penthouse apartments, new vehicles, the Extraction game mode, and the ability to form player organizations with exclusive missions. The Festive Surprise update returned on December 21, adding snowfall, festive-themed clothes, masks, a new car, and a new Adversary Mode released on December 23.
An update on January 28, 2016, added a new Adversary Mode called Drop Zone and two new sports cars. The Be My Valentine update, launched on February 10, added new outfits, cars, and a couple-themed Adversary Mode. The Lowriders: Custom Classics update, released on March 15, added three customizable cars, new weapons, clothes, and an Adversary Mode called Sumo. Further Adventures in Finance and Felony, released on June 7, added executive offices, cargo warehouses, organization-related missions, challenges, vehicles, clothing items, weapon attachments, and an Adversary Mode called Trading Places. The Cunning Stunts update, released on July 12, added 13 new vehicles and 16 stunt races.
The Bikers update, released on October 4, introduced motorcycle clubs with purchasable clubhouses and businesses like counterfeit cash factories and weed farms. It also added new bikes, biker-themed weapons, tattoos, clothing items, and an Adversary Mode. The Deadline update, released on November 8, added an Adversary Mode similar to light cycle races from Disney's Tron: Legacy film. On December 13, the Import/Export and Festive Surprise 2016 updates were released. The former expanded the Finance and Felony update with vehicle warehouses and Special Vehicle Work missions, while the latter added more Christmas-themed content.
The Cunning Stunts: Special Vehicle Circuit, released on March 14, 2017, introduced special vehicle stunt races and 20 additional races. The Gunrunning update, released on June 13, added purchasable bunkers for illegal weapon production, new vehicles like armored personnel carriers, and the Mobile Operations Center (MOC), which provides customization for weapons and vehicles. Smuggler's Run, released on August 29, added purchasable hangars and a new business: air cargo smuggling. It also introduced new aircraft and an Adversary Mode. The Doomsday Heist, released on December 12, added a new, longer, and more profitable heist called the Doomsday Heist.
Reception
Many reviewers described their first experience with Grand Theft Auto Online as difficult because the game had many technical problems when it was first released. Chris Carter from Destructoid said the problems at the start should have been fixed before the game was released. Keza MacDonald from IGN mentioned that her first play sessions were very disappointing. Liam Martin from Digital Spy lost his character data and said the technical issues were worse than people expected before the game came out. Some reviewers praised the game's open-ended and changing content. Jon Denton from VideoGamer said the endless gameplay made up for the problems. Liam Martin from Digital Spy also complimented the game's large scale.
The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One re-release of the game received similar feedback. Dan Stapleton from IGN reported that there were few players in matches, long waiting times, server disconnections, and occasional crashes. He said, "Because of that, I can't strongly recommend … the multiplayer experience alone." VideoGamer.com said the game's progression was more organized and balanced than before, but they noted frequent server disconnections during load screens. Andrew Reiner from Game Informer said there was minimal lag or issues in the expanded firefights and races.
Other parts of the game were also criticized. The character creation system was described as hard to use, leading to unattractive avatars. Keza MacDonald from IGN said the game's addictive rhythm eventually became boring as tasks became repetitive. Carolyn Petit from GameSpot said the early missions had uninteresting team-based deathmatches. Rich Stanton from Eurogamer said cooperative gameplay felt repetitive because players repeated the same simple tasks. Mark Walton from GameSpot said the fast-paced action lacked direction, with PvP being endless battles without clear goals. He said the reputation system did not stop players from acting unfairly, and the game's economy was unbalanced due to low rewards for missions.
Over time, the game received better reviews. Patrick Garratt from VG247 said the San Andreas Flight School update made players more interested in aircraft missions by offering better rewards. Liam Martin from Digital Spy said the Heists update encouraged teamwork and required precise coordination. Ryan McCaffrey from IGN said the heists had high replay value because of their unpredictable action. Rich Stanton from Eurogamer said the heists required strategic planning and quick thinking. He also noted occasional pacing issues and technical problems like server disconnections during missions.
The game won Best Multiplayer at the 10th British Academy Games Awards and from GameTrailers. Game Revolution and Hardcore Gamer nominated it for Biggest Disappointment. At the 2019 Golden Joystick Awards, the game was nominated for Still Playing and won Best Game Expansion for The Diamond Casino & Resort. Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company, said that by February 2014, 70 percent of Grand Theft Auto V players with Internet access had played Grand Theft Auto Online. The game's micro-transactions system was the biggest source of digital revenue for the company since the game's launch.