In what month and year did Grand Theft Auto Online launch?
Answer
October 2013
Grand Theft Auto Online launched in October 2013. Rockstar Games released the multiplayer component on 1 October 2013 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, shortly after Grand Theft Auto V arrived in September.
The launch was highly anticipated because GTA Online expanded GTA V’s open world into a persistent multiplayer experience. Players could create custom characters, explore Los Santos, buy properties and vehicles, complete missions, compete in races, and cooperate in criminal activities.
Its debut was troubled by severe server and connection problems. Many players could not enter the game, encountered loading freezes, or lost character progress. Rockstar released patches during the first two weeks and temporarily suspended the game’s microtransaction system while it investigated the problems.
A common mix-up is confusing the original 2013 release with later platform launches. GTA Online reached PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in November 2014, Windows in April 2015, and PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in March 2022. The October 2013 date refers to its first launch, not every version.