Grand Theft Auto V "evolves nearly every mechanic" found in previous games in the series. GTA V's world is bigger than the worlds of Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto IV combined. Areas in the game world include beach fronts, mountains, the wilderness, a "Salton Sea" region, a military base and the suburbs. The ocean floor is fully detailed and can be explored.
GTA V's single-player story is told through three player-controlled protagonists. They are Michael, Trevor and Franklin, criminals whose stories interconnect as they complete missions together. During story missions, the player can switch between the protagonists as they work together to accomplish an objective; in one such mission, Michael rappels down the side of a building, Franklin provides covering fire with a sniper rifle, and Trevor controls the getaway helicopter.
Outside of missions, the player is free to swap between the protagonists and explore the game's open world, which includes a fully-fledged ecosystem. The camera zooms out to a "Google Earth-style" perspective when switching characters and then drops into wherever the chosen character is. Even when the player is not controlling them, each character will still go about their own business across Los Santos. As any of the protagonists, the player can engage in activities such as yoga, triathlons, Jet Skiing, base-jumping, tennis, golf, scuba diving or go to the gym. Each character will have unique hobbies, which can be completed with the protagonists' friends, but the dating system from GTA IV does not return. San Andreas' RPG-like player customisation is also absent, but the player can customise the clothing of each character. Characters can "flip off" people, "something Rockstar recommends you do in varied circumstances to see different reactions from people". Depending on the area, people react differently.
The mobile phone introduced in GTA IV returns, but many of its features have been altered. The mobile phone is mainly used for activities and can also be used to access the in-game internet. There will be a "vibrant and fun" economy system, but the player won't be able to buy property as in Vice City and Vice City Stories . Shooting has evolved "a long way" in terms of feel and mechanics, and the melee combat is improved over that of previous GTA titles.
GTA V will feature more vehicles than in any GTA to date, including huge variety of cars, trucks, bikes, helicopters, planes, ATVs and jet skis. The cars will feel less "boatlike" than in GTA IV, they will "hold on better to the ground" and the driving mechanic will feel "more like a racing game".
Multiplayer
Multiplayer will feature "Crews" similar to Max Payne 3. The new Social Club functionality will connect play across multiple titles, starting with Max Payne 3 and GTA V. By playing both games' multiplayer, crews that the player set up in one will be carried over to the other. GTA V will let players form private crews with friends, or join public crews. Players can be a member of up to five at the same time, and completing tasks as a crew will gain experience points for the player. In late 2012, Rockstar said that "refining open-world multiplayer into something really special" had been a huge focus in the development of GTA V.
