Nový Hrádek

[Bitlithos]

Many players, especially those who enjoy both the story mode and the online component, often ask how the timelines of Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online fit together. The relationship has evolved significantly since Online's launch, and it can be confusing.

Is GTA Online a Prequel to GTA V?

Initially, yes. For the first few years, GTA Online was largely considered a prequel set in 2013, before the events of the single-player story. Several early updates support this. For instance, in the Heists update, Trevor Philips doesn't recognize the O'Neil brothers, whom he has already met in GTA V's story. Players help set up Chef's meth lab for Trevor, and the Vagos gang is still operating in Sandy Shores, an area they later abandon in the main story. Furthermore, central single-player characters like Simeon Yetarian and Martin Madrazo are running their businesses, and Lester Crest can be heard referencing an "unpredictable" associate (your Online character) during GTA V's jewelry store planning.

When Did the Timeline Change?

The shift happened with the Gunrunning update in 2017. During the "Mole Hunt" mission, Agent 14 explicitly says, "Yeah, it's 2017, I can't believe it either." This line officially moved GTA Online out of its prequel status and into real-time progression. Since then, each major update has been set in the year of its release, with the storyline advancing accordingly. References to past decades, like Lester mentioning events from GTA IV being "almost a decade ago," further anchor the timeline in a contemporary setting. This decision, as explained by Rockstar, was largely logistical to allow for the introduction of modern vehicles, weapons, and cultural references.

So, Are There Contradictions?

Yes, and most players accept them as necessary for the game's live-service nature. While the overarching timeline moved forward, many early 2013-era missions and contacts remain accessible. You might help a character in one mission who is canonically deceased in the current timeline. Additionally, some internet pages in-game or TV shows like "Fame or Shame" reference events from GTA V's story, which from a 2017-onward perspective, are in the past. These are generally seen by the community as developer oversights or simply legacy content that was never altered.

How Does This Affect Gameplay and Progression?

In practice, the shifting timeline has little impact on moment-to-moment gameplay. However, it explains the massive technological and business expansion your character experiences—from small-time heists to running a multinational criminal enterprise with a private submarine. The progression from a street-level protagonist to a kingpin makes more sense over a near-decade of in-game time. This lengthy progression is also why some players, seeking to bypass the early-game grind for money and assets, might look to buy gta 5 modded accounts cheap on U4N, though this carries significant risks and is against Rockstar's terms of service.

What About Removed Content?

Over the years, Rockstar has removed select content, mostly for unclear reasons. Several original Contact Missions like "Docks to Stock II" and "American Exports" were taken out in the enhanced version for next-gen consoles and PC. Previously, players found that certain DLC vehicles spawning in traffic could not be stolen or stored; this was patched in a later update, though these vehicles remain "too hot" to modify at Los Santos Customs. Most players adapt to these changes, focusing on the vast amount of content that remains and is regularly added.

The Bottom Line for Players

Think of GTA Online as a living, parallel universe to Los Santos. It started alongside GTA V's story but has since grown into its own ongoing narrative that progresses in real-time. While the early connections are neat for lore enthusiasts, you don't need to understand the timeline to enjoy the game. The core experience is about building your criminal empire with friends, and the evolving timeline simply provides a backdrop for ever more ambitious updates and heists.