How Rockstar Is Creating “An Entire Grand Theft Auto World” With GTA Online

Grand Theft Auto Online will come with GTA V next week, but won’t unlock until October 1st, giving everyone some time to get to know the ropes of GTA V’s world. And it’s that world that they’re aiming to take to the next level with the online component.

Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies told Game Informer that they’re aiming “to create an entire Grand Theft Auto world that consists of everything we’ve done or are going to do then let the player freely move between them”. So does that rule out the possibility another game after this instalment?

They’ve toyed around with the idea of Grand Theft Auto Online in the past – since GTA III in fact – but have only now realised their dreams along with GTA V. “We’ve always wanted to create a world with the complexity of a single-player Grand Theft Auto game with the addition of real players. We wanted a world where people could spend years without getting bored of playing the same content over and over.”

Years. Considering how GTA Online is coming exclusively (as of now) to PS3 and Xbox 360, and with the PS4 and Xbox One just around the corner, could Benzies be hinting at a next-gen release of the online component, if not the full game? “I think we’ve managed to achieve something very close to our dream,” he continues, so why wouldn’t they release that dream on upcoming consoles?

There are also a lot of other Online details in the six-page feature available in Game Informer, according to IGN, including that there will be over 500 missions available from launch, some of which are solo affairs but many which require teaming up. All of them take place after the conclusion of the single player story, so familiar faces may make an appearance and the online component may even spoil some things.

As you step into the online component, you’ll be met with your friends and Social Club crew members, though over time this will involve to include players of a similar skill to you and players from your region. Of course, you can handpick who appears in your game too. It certainly sounds like a persistent online world, though I feel the 16 player limit may hold it back somewhat.

Almost all activities available in V will be available in Online too, including “heists, missions, robberies, assaulting gang hideouts, hijacking armored vehicles, races” and more tame things such as “tennis, golf and base jumping”. These will be updated through Rockstar’s Social Club regularly.

While playing Online, your goal will be to collect as much cash as possible and buy properties, vehicles and other assets. ATMs are a necessity, as rival players can steal all your cash if you don’t have it banked, though you’re able to place bounties in order to get it back.

This all sounds absolutely incredible, I think I’m more excited for Online than I am for GTA V. Speaking of which, if you fancy winning a copy then you can enter our competition.

Source: Game Informer, via IGN