How do save files work between gta v story mode and gta online?

{ "top_answer": "Grand Theft Auto Online is a separate multiplayer component that runs alongside Grand Theft Auto V's story mode, with shared account progression but distinct save files for each mode.", "long_answer": "Grand Theft Auto Online operates as a standalone multiplayer experience that connects to your main Grand Theft Auto V installation. While both modes use the same base game files, they maintain separate save data structures. Your story mode progress, including completed missions and unlocked content, exists independently from your online character's statistics, properties, and achievements. The game shares certain profile elements like overall rank and unlocked vehicles across both modes, but mission progress and story completion do not transfer between story and online. Players can access Online mode directly from the main story campaign's menu, and both modes save to the same platform profile but in different data structures managed by Rockstar's servers for Online mode and local storage for story mode. Neither mode can alter or corrupt the other's save data under normal circumstances.", "category_slug": "game-mechanics", "tags": ["gta-v", "save-files", "game-data", "rockstar-games", "multiplayer", "story-mode", "online-mode", "progress-transfer"], "related_questions": [ "Can I transfer my GTA Online character to story mode?", "What happens to my GTA V story progress when playing online?", "How do I manage save files for GTA V and GTA Online?", "Do GTA Online purchases carry over to story mode?", "Can I play GTA Online without finishing story mode?", "How does Rockstar handle save data for GTA Online?", "Is my GTA Online money available in story mode?", "What's the difference between GTA V saves and GTA Online saves?" ], "linked_movies": [], "linked_characters": [], "linked_universes": ["Grand Theft Auto V"], "linked_scenarios": [], "linked_directors": [], "confidence": 0.75, "needs_verification": true }