On Tuesday Rockstar games announced that they would be revealing information on Grand Theft Auto V Online on Thursday 15th of August (today!). They have kept true to their word and we now have a boatload of information regarding the expanded GTA V universe that we will be able to traverse with friends online.
The online mode of the incoming game will be a massive 16-player ‘always online’ co-op mode that will let gamers play online in the constantly changing world of GTA V’s Los Santos. The always online aspect of the multiplayer will mean that the nature of Los Santos in GTA Online allows players to jump into this version of the city at any time, even when other players aren’t online.
GTA V Online promises to be a living, online world with multiple players where the online mode offers an expanded universe on top of GTA V and the single player gameplay. Gamers will be able to act as their own character and customise them by earning money. Money can be earned by doing various tasks from the simple stealing of cars to participating in classic multiplayer games with other players.
Over time you’ll be able to customise your appearance and even own your own apartment within the city and then you can engage in both pre-determined and custom-built missions in the online world. These missions will introduce new characters and gameplay situations, or if you want to you can create your own missions and games by using the new mission editing features.
You will be able to create a crew with other players online or if you want to suddenly go solo you can defect from your group and go work on your own or join up with a new crew.
On www.rockstargames.com/V/GTAOnline, Rockstar states:
“Grand Theft Auto Online is a dynamic and persistent online world for 16 players that begins by sharing gameplay features, geography and mechanics with Grand Theft Auto V, but will continue to expand and evolve after its launch with new content created by Rockstar Games and the Grand Theft Auto community,” the company explained. “Grand Theft Auto Online takes the fundamental Grand Theft Auto concepts of freedom, ambient activity and mission-based gameplay and makes them available to multiple players in an incredibly detailed and responsive online world.
We could, if we wanted, simulate the entire world, different countries, whatever. Whether we do that or not… But we’ve got a bunch of old stuff that we’re toying with using.
“In Grand Theft Auto Online, players have the freedom to explore alone or with friends, work cooperatively to complete missions, band together to participate in activities and ambient events, or compete in traditional game modes with the entire community, all with the personality and refined mechanics of Grand Theft Auto V.
“Players can invest in their character through customizing their appearance, improving their stats, owning customized vehicles, purchasing personal property, and taking part in missions, jobs and activities to earn reputation and cash to open up new opportunities to rise through the criminal ranks. The world of Grand Theft Auto Online will constantly grow and change as new content is added, creating the first ever persistent and dynamic Grand Theft Auto game world.
“Access to Grand Theft Auto Online is free with every retail copy of Grand Theft Auto V and launches on October 1st.”
The announcement has made the already amazing looking GTA V look even better with the promise of our own personalised world that we can share with friends online. GTA may be taking over our lives for some time… albeit two weeks after we get the actual game.