Grand Theft Auto V takes place five years after Grand Theft Auto IV and is now set in Los Santos. It centers around three protagonists: Michael, Trevor, and Franklin. New to the series is that the player can switch between the three characters on the fly. They each have different missions, lives, and personalities. They also often come together, especially for heists, a complex type of mission where a large operation needs to be planned and executed by determining a strategy and hiring additional henchmen. The gameplay involves gunfights and takes place in a sprawling, open-world city where players get around by acquiring transport (cars, boats, helicopters, etc) through less than legal means. Players can roam the game world, complete story missions, and partake in various illegal activities, including shooting civilians, robbing people, destruction of cars, and the titular act of car theft. These lead to a wanted rating of up to five stars, sending in a police force in pursuit.
Michael, whilst hiding in the witness protection program as a result of a botched robbery nine years earlier, encounters Franklin who, in his capacity as a repo man, is sent to get a car from Michael's son Jimmy. Michael however realizes Franklin is being set up, so tells Franklin to crash his son's car into the dealership that sent him. After that, they become friends. One day, Michael discovers his wife in bed with another man, and with Franklin's help, chases him to a mansion, which they promptly burn to the ground. The game's multiplayer component is called GTA Online . It is set two months before the start of the single-player story. It allows up to 16 players (PS3 / Xbox 360) or 30 players (Xbox One / PS4 / PC) to travel around a world identical to the single-player world to complete story-driven activities, both competitive and co-operative. The later released PS4, Xbox One, and PC versions have various enhancements and additional features. Technical upgrades include an increased draw distance and support for higher resolutions. New content includes new weapons, vehicles and activities, additional wildlife, denser traffic, a new foliage system, enhanced damage, and weather effects.
New features such as the Dodo seaplane, stock car races, and a full first-person view allow players to experience the game in new ways. The player can shoot, walk and drive from first person, with fully functional interiors, HUDs, and interfaces for vehicles. Additionally, there are 100 additional songs, new wildlife photo challenges, and a murder mystery to solve.