Are gta online and gta v story mode connected?

Grand Theft Auto Online is described as the online multiplayer version of Grand Theft Auto V, and it runs in the same open world of San Andreas that the single‑player story mode uses. Players that complete the story mode can unlock in‑game currency and items that can be used in the online mode, and some in‑game events reference the story, but the two modes run independently. The story mode follows the narrative of three protagonists, while Grand Theft Auto Online is a persistent, sandbox‑style multiplayer environment that allows up to thirty players to explore Los Santos and its countryside. Because they share the same map, vehicles, and many assets, the two experiences feel connected, yet they do not share a linear plot or continue the same storyline. Therefore, while the games are linked through Rockstar’s shared universe, they remain distinct gameplay modes.