Grand Theft Auto V is an
open world,
action-adventure video game developed by
Rockstar North and published by
Rockstar Games. It was released on 17 September 2013 for the
PlayStation 3 and
Xbox 360 consoles. It is the fifteenth title in the
Grand Theft Auto series, and the first main entry since
Grand Theft Auto IV in 2008. As one of the last titles to be released for the
seventh generation of video game consoles,
Grand Theft Auto V was highly anticipated preceding its release.
Grand Theft Auto V is played from a
third-person perspective
in an open world environment, allowing the player to interact with the
game world at their leisure. The game is set within the fictional state
of San Andreas, based on
Southern California, and affords the player the ability to freely roam the world's countryside and the fictional city of
Los Santos, based on
Los Angeles. The
single-player
story is told through three player-controlled protagonists whom the
player switches between, and it follows their efforts to plan and
execute six large
heists to accrue wealth for themselves. An
online multiplayer
mode is included with the game, allowing up to 16 players to engage in
both co-operative and competitive gameplay in a re-creation of the
single-player setting.
The developers envisioned
Grand Theft Auto V as a spiritual successor to many of their previous projects, such as
Red Dead Redemption and
Max Payne 3. Development began shortly following the release of
Grand Theft Auto IV,
with a focus on innovating the core structure of the gameplay by giving
the player control of three protagonists. Upon its release, the game
was acclaimed by many reviewers who praised its story missions,
presentation, and open-ended gameplay. Its depiction of violent themes,
including Trevor's psychopathy and use of torture, and treatment of
women polarised commentators. A commercial success,
Grand Theft Auto V
broke industry sales records by earning US $800 million in the first 24
hours of its release, and US $1 billion within its first three days,
making it the fastest selling entertainment product in history.