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Grand Theft Auto Online
Developer(s)	Rockstar North
Publisher(s)	Rockstar Games
Director(s)	Leslie Benzies
Producer(s)	Andy Duthie
Designer(s)	Leslie Benzies
Programmer(s)	Adam Fowler
Artist(s)	Aaron Garbut
Composer(s)	Tangerine Dream Woody Jackson The Alchemist Oh No
Series	Grand Theft Auto
Engine	RAGE, with Euphoria and Bullet Physics
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3 Xbox 360
Release	1 October 2013
Genre(s)	Action-adventure
Mode(s)	Online multiplayer

Grand Theft Auto Online is a persistent, open world online multiplayer video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. Released on 1 October 2013, it is the online multiplayer mode for Grand Theft Auto V. Grand Theft Auto Online was developed in tandem with Grand Theft Auto V, and allows up to 16 players to freely roam across a recreation of the single-player world.

Gameplay

In Grand Theft Auto Online, players create a new character specific to the online world, which shows on the screen's Switch Wheel alongside single-player characters Franklin, Michael, and Trevor. The player-characters are designed by a genetics-related process. Greater control is given to the character's clothes and hairstyles. The mute player-character online avatar arrives in Los Santos by plane and is picked up by Lamar Davis, who gives the character a gun and a car. The player earns money by playing and can unlock more guns and missions. An hour-long tutorial introduces the player to the various game modes, driving, fighting, and game progression mechanics. The story is not central in the multiplayer, though characters from the single-player are woven in.

Aside from the open world, there are three main types of set activities: racing (by car, bike, air or boat), Deathmatch (team or free-for-all), and objective-based Missions (simplified single-player-like missions, usually cooperative). Online uses lock-on aim and emphasises stealth in firefights. Levelling up lets players buy more guns and cars and unlocks more activities, such as parachuting and aircraft. Once unlocked, items need to be purchased with in-game currency, which can be earned or purchased with real money. Money can also be used to buy car customizations. Players can circumvent an activity's level requirements by joining a game with others of a sufficient rank. The matchmaking is set to not mix players of high level differentials. There are options to play alone or with friends, and a small in-game fee activates Passive mode, which makes the player immune to other players.

The game includes a content creation tool that lets players make automobile races and deathmatches. Players can choose the location, start and spawn points, and weapon and vehicle drops in deathmatches, and the location, route, race type, and player count in air, land, or sea races. Creations have to be tested against computer-controlled players before the mode is available online. The creations can also be published for others to use. Rockstar tags what they deem to be the best as "Rockstar Verified".

Development

Developed in tandem with Grand Theft Auto V, Grand Theft Auto Online was conceived as a separate experience to be played in a continually evolving world where up to 16 players freely roam across a recreation of the single-player world. Within the world, players enter lobbies to complete Jobs (story-driven competitive and cooperative modes). The Content Creator toolset lets players create their own parameters for custom jobs, like racetracks and deathmatch weapon spawn points. Players may band together in organised player teams called crews to complete Jobs together. Rockstar Games Social Club extends crews formed in Max Payne 3's multiplayer mode to Grand Theft Auto Online's. Players can create their own crews and join up to five total. Crews win multiplayer matches to earn experience points and climb online leaderboards. The High Life Update introduced in May 2014 gave players the ability to own two properties, increased the vehicle count and added a new Bullpup Rifle. The team plans on continually updating Grand Theft Auto Online well into the future to give players more missions, cars, weapons and Heists.

Reception

Review scores

Publication	Score
Destructoid	7/10 (8 October 2013)
GameSpot	6/10 (5 May 2014) 7/10 (11 October 2013)
VideoGamer.com	9/10 (25 October 2013)
Digital Spy	(17 October 2013)
GRY-OnLine	7.5/10 (11 October 2013)
Cheat Code Central	3.8/5 (3 October 2013)

Grand Theft Auto Online launched on 1 October 2013, two weeks after the release of Grand Theft Auto V. Shortly thereafter, many players reported that they had difficulties connecting to the game's servers and the Social Club service, and others further reported that the game would freeze during load screens for early missions. Rockstar released a technical patch on 5 October in an effort to resolve the issues. The microtransaction system, which allows players to purchase game content using real money, was also suspended as a fail-safe. Problems persisted during the second week of launch, as some players reported progress for their characters disappearing. Another technical patch was released on 10 October combating the issues, with advice administered to players experiencing the issues to not create their multiplayer avatars again. As compensation to players for the technical issues, a stimulus of GTA $500,000, an in-game currency, was funded to the accounts of all players connected to the mode since launch.

Because of the widespread technical issues present at launch, many reviewers bemoaned their experience with Grand Theft Auto Online. Chris Carter of Destructoid criticised the "messy launch" and felt that Rockstar should have delayed it. MacDonald considered her initial play sessions in Grand Theft Auto Online "disastrous". Liam Martin of Digital Spy reported glitches including loss of his character data, and, while generally praising the scope of the experience, considered Grand Theft Auto Online underwhelming as it was beholden to pre-launch anticipation let down by its technical issues. The character creation system was panned by critics, who felt that the system only produced unattractive avatars. MacDonald noted an "addictive rhythm" to character progression and was enthusiastic to some of the jobs, but felt that most eventually became monotonous to play. Petit agreed with MacDonald's sentiment, writing that "early on, your mission options are dominated by bland last team standing deathmatches". However, reviewers generally recognised the open-ended exploration and dynamic content as Grand Theft Auto Online's strength; Jon Denton of VideoGamer.com was particularly enthusiastic, writing that the "endlessness" of the gameplay made up for the technical issues.

Post-release content is continually added to Grand Theft Auto Online through free title updates. The Beach Bum Update, released on 19 November 2013, adds additional beach-themed jobs and customisation content for players. Coinciding with the 2014 Valentine's Day, the Valentine's Day Massacre update added Bonnie and Clyde-themed content to the game for a limited time. Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company, stated that by February 2014, 70 percent of Grand Theft Auto V players with Internet access had played Grand Theft Auto Online, and that the game's microtransactions system was the largest contributor to the company's digital revenue since Grand Theft Auto Online's launch.

References

1. ^ Yoon, Andrew (15 August 2013). "Why does Grand Theft Auto Online launch two weeks after GTA5?". Shacknews. GameFly. Archived from the original on 12 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
2. ^ MacDonald, Keza (22 October 2013). "Grand Theft Auto Online Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 12 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
3. Reed, Chris (11 December 2013). "Grand Theft Auto V Gets Deathmatch and Race Creator Update". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 12 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
4. Weaver, Tim (16 August 2013). "Interview: Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies on GTA Online and GTA V". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 17 August 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
5. Dawkins, Daniel (15 August 2013). "GTA Online first look: Rockstar's persistent online world is its most ambitious project in years". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 16 August 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
6. McInnis, Shaun (16 August 2013). "Why Grand Theft Auto Online is Crazy Enough to Work". Gamespot. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
7. Krupa, Daniel (22 March 2012). "Max Payne 3: Rockstar's Multiplayer Reinvention". IGN. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
8. "Living The High Life In Grand Theft Auto Online". MMO Attack. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
9. "Grand Theft Auto Online for Xbox 360". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
10. "Grand Theft Auto Online for PlayStation 3". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
11. "Grand Theft Auto Online for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
12. "Grand Theft Auto Online for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
13. ^ Carter, Chris (8 October 2013). "Review: Grand Theft Auto Online". Destructoid. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
14. Petit, Carolyn (5 May 2013). "Grand Theft Auto Online Updated Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
15. ^ Petit, Carolyn (11 October 2013). "Grand Theft Auto Online Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
16. ^ Denton, Jon (25 October 2013). "GTA Online Review". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
17. ^ Martin, Liam (17 October 2013). "'GTA Online' review (Xbox 360): Full of untapped potential". Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
18. ^ Antares (11 October 2013). "Recenzja gry Grand Theft Auto Online - multiplayer z potencjałem" (in Polish). GRY-OnLine. Retrieved 15 March 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
19. Joshua Bruce (3 October 2013). "A Fun but Buggy GTA". Cheat Code Central. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
20. Dyer, Mitch (30 September 2013). "When Can We Start Playing GTA Online". IGN. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
21. Karmali, Luke (4 October 2013). "GTA Online Launch Issues – Rockstar Speaks". IGN. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
22. Sarkar, Samit (1 October 2013). "GTA Online now live, Rockstar looking into server issues (update)". Polygon. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
23. Farokhmanesh, Megan (6 October 2013). "GTA Online connection issues resolved, lost items still being investigated". Polygon. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
24. Stuart, Keith (4 October 2013). "GTA V Online: Rockstar launches update to fix PS3 problems". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 October 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
25. Scammell, David (7 October 2013). "GTA Online: Rockstar investigating missing characters, progress and money". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
26. Karmali, Luke (10 October 2013). "GTA Online Deleted Character Fix Released by Rockstar". IGN. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
27. Matulef, Jeffrey (7 November 2013). "GTA Online's stimulus package is live". Eurogamer. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
28. ^ MacDonald, Keza (22 October 2013). "Grand Theft Auto Online Review". IGN. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
29. Stuart, Keith (14 November 2013). "GTA Online: release date announced for Beach Bum update". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
30. GameCentral (11 February 2014). "GTA Online planning Valentine's Day Massacre Special DLC". Metro. Retrieved 16 March 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
31. Dring, Christopher (3 February 2014). "70% of GTA V gamers have played GTA Online". MCV. Retrieved 16 March 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

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