GTA 5 Online multiplayer revealed: Rockstar have basically made an MMO, and it looks mental

After being shrouded in secrecy for many months, Rockstar have lifted the covers off of Grand Theft Auto Online, the multiplayer component of the long-awaited GTA 5. Check out its grand unveiling in the video above.

Opening up the entire gameworld to as many as 16 players at once, it’s a persistent world that allows gamers to form gangs and take on missions (including bank robberies and heists) and other challenges, or just unleash havoc in the way only Grand Theft Auto games do best. Even the game’s minigames, such as golf and table tennis, seem to be available to be played in this online mode.

Working not unlike an MMO in many respects, GTA Online will also offer deep customisation tools, letting players craft unique looks for their avatars, as well as pimping out vehicles too.

“Grand Theft 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,” says Rockstar.

And all this for free alongside the main game!

Launching on October 1st (the main single player campaign goes on sale and is playable from 17th September), you’ll have plenty of time to get your teeth stuck into the story-driven world before tackling the online portion. If we weren’t excited before, we’re practically foaming at the mouth to get our hands on the game now.