This is the Official GTA Online Discussion Thread which will be the home for any official news, reviews, information or discussions on anything GTA Online.
What is GTA Online?
Grand Theft Auto Online is a dynamic and persistent online world for 16 players that begins by sharing gameplay features, geography and mechanics with Grand Theft Auto V, but will continue to expand and evolve after its launch with new content created by Rockstar Games and the Grand Theft Auto community.
How do I get GTA Online?
01-Oct-2013 - Update - The title update for GTA 5, which will activate the multiplayer component, will be available October 1, 9pm Eastern Australian time.
Access to Grand Theft Auto Online is free with every retail copy of Grand Theft Auto V.
When will GTA Online be available?
30-Sep-2013 - Update - Grand Theft Auto Online Launches in Australia on October 2
GTA Online will be available 2 weeks after the launch of GTAV; the date is currently set for October 1st.
How do I avoid losing my charcter when Rockstar are having server issues?
This info comes from Rockstar Support, courtesy of SuperlapS15:
SourceNote: When the Rockstar Cloud Services are unavailable, you are given the option to still play online on disc-based content (rather than R* Cloud content). You are asked to confirm before entering Multiplayer whether you would like to play on a temporary character, without the ability to save. If you confirm this option, please note that none of your old characters will be available for that play session, and the temporary character you create will not be saved. If you want to make sure the characters you create are saved, you should not proceed into GTA Online when the R* Cloud Servers are unavailable. Even if the services come back up while you are playing on a temporary character, that temporary character will not save -- you would need to return to Single Player and re-enter GTA Online to load your non-temporary characters and resume playing with the ability to save progress.
Note: When exiting GTA Online, please pause the game and choose to return to Single Player. This will trigger a save and ensure that progress since the last auto-save is recorded. If you purchase items and immediately power the console off or exit through console system menus, those items may not be saved.
Note that there seems to be a bug (supposedly fixed in 1.02, but still being reported) where temporary characters will overwrite existing ones. If you get the message that cloud servers are not available, the safest course of action is not to play multiplayer until they are back online.
Helpful links
The AUF GTA V Crew Thread - Learn how to join the AUF crew for GTA Online
GTA V Pre-Release Discussion Thread - Check out the OP for information on GTAV
Official GTA V Discussion - The official AUF discussion thread for GTAV
GTA: Online tips for the new and old alike - Handy guide for GTAO beginners by Baron Von Beans from NeoGAF
GTA Online: Broughy's Vehicle Leaderboards - Our thread summarising all of the vehicle speed testing done by Broughy1322
GTAO VIP Companion App - A handy web page with timers and an active map display for rare vehicle spawns, active gang attacks, etc.
GTAV Downloads - Official collection of wallpapers and avatars from Rockstar Games
GTAV Videos - Official collection of trailers and featured clips from Rockstar Games
Rockstar Wearhouse - Original apparel and collectibles for GTAV from Rockstar Games
Reviews, Articles etc.
Article - 12-Sep-2013 - Hands On With Rockstar's Ambitious Take On Online Play - By GameInformer
Article - 25-Sep-2013 - Grand Theft Auto Online micro-transaction pack prices revealed - By EuroGamer
Article - 25-Sep-2013 - Some More Details on Grand Theft Auto Online - By Rockstar
Article - 25-Sep-2013 - Grand Theft Auto Online Launches in Australia on October 2 - By SoftPedia News
Article - 30-Sep-2013 - GTA Online Release Details - By NowGamer
Article - 01-Oct-2013 - Fresh Grand Theft Auto Online details emerge ahead of imminent launch - By CVG
GTA Online Overview
Grand Theft Auto Online is a dynamic and persistent online world for 16 players that begins by sharing gameplay features, geography and mechanics with Grand Theft Auto V, but will continue to expand and evolve after its launch with new content created by Rockstar Games and the Grand Theft Auto community. Grand Theft Auto 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.
In Grand Theft Auto Online, players have the freedom to explore alone or with friends, work cooperatively to complete missions, band together to participate in activities and ambient events, or compete in traditional game modes with the entire community, all with the personality and refined mechanics of Grand Theft Auto V.
Players can invest in their character through customizing their appearance, improving their stats, owning customized vehicles, purchasing personal property, and taking part in missions, jobs and activities to earn reputation and cash to open up new opportunities to rise through the criminal ranks. The world of Grand Theft Auto Online will constantly grow and change as new content is added, creating the first ever persistent and dynamic Grand Theft Auto game world.
Access to Grand Theft Auto Online is free with every retail copy of Grand Theft Auto V and launches on October 1st
Videos
Grand Theft Auto Online: Official Gameplay Video
HD Link
GTA V Online (use of Crew tags) - added 24/3/15
The traditional use of AUF tag rule is relaxed on crew tags in GTAV, thus that the interchange of crews is allowed discretionally.
However members are expected to rep AUF tags when playing with other AUFers, including on AUF organised nights.
- This crew tag exception applies ONLY to Grand Theft Auto Online
- If members are found to abuse or take advantage of this allowance, they risk expulsion from AUF and removal of this privilege for everyone else.
- Madmin reserves the right to modify or terminate this rule at any time.