17 September 2026 marks 13 years since the release of Grand Theft Auto V, developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. The first versions appeared on 17 September 2013 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The title was later released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The action takes place in the fictional state of San Andreas and the city of Los Santos, inspired by Los Angeles and Southern California. The map combines an urban area with mountains, desert, coastline and rural communities. The main story follows three playable characters: Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton and Trevor Philips. Switching between protagonists became one of the defining mechanics.

The structure combines narrative missions, planned heists and free exploration of an open world. The tone satirises American consumerism, celebrity, media, technology and politics. Grand Theft Auto Online was activated several weeks after launch. The multiplayer component continued to receive updates, missions, vehicles and new spaces for years.

Its commercial longevity was unusual: the game remained in sales charts long after 2013. Periodic reports from publisher Take-Two confirm a title with a long commercial life; exact figures change from one release to another and are not repeated here as a fixed milestone.

Success was accompanied by controversy over violence, the portrayal of characters and economic practices in the online component. Those debates form part of any assessment of its cultural impact, not a single verdict.

The cover image is a photograph of real Los Angeles, not promotional artwork from the game. Los Santos is inspired by this urban landscape. Thirteen years after release, GTA V remains a landmark open-world game and an example of how online updates can extend a title’s life.

Photo: Steven Lek / Wikimedia Commons. Downtown Los Angeles, 2019. CC BY-SA 4.0. A photograph of the real city, not Rockstar promotional art. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Grand Theft Auto V | Rockstar Games; Investor relations | Take-Two Interactive; CC BY-SA 4.0.