It might not launch until Oct. 1, a couple of weeks after the official release date of Grand Theft Auto 5, but the online portion of Rockstar’s open-world blockbuster will not be sold separately. The persistent world will be unique compared to its narrative counterpart, yet a spokesman has confirmed with Polygon that anyone who buys the game on Sept. 17 will also own its online feature.
"We don't have any plans to sell GTA Online separately," the spokesperson wrote. "It will come free with every copy of GTA 5 and doesn't require a code, online pass, or anything like that."
That means that even if a consumer happens to pick the game up used after the Oct. 1 date, the online component will be there and ready to play. If you’ve been keeping up with today’s flurry of open-world news, you’ll likely want to experience as much of GTA Online as possible. With redesigned mechanics, the ability to gain notoriety from structured and unstructured missions within the connected world, and an endless list of user-generated content, some of the biggest hype surrounding Grand Theft Auto 5 might just emerge from the game’s multiplayer mode.
Check out the full trailer if you just woke up, and look forward to hearing more news and updates in the near future.