How does gta online differ from gta v s single player story?

GTA Online and GTA V's single-player story share the same fictional setting, San Andreas, and its city of Los Santos. However, GTA Online is designed as an online multiplayer experience, allowing cooperative or competitive play among up to 30 players, whereas the single-player story follows a linear narrative with three specific characters—Michael, Franklin, and Trevor. GTA Online emphasizes customizable avatars, dynamic events, and evolving content, while the single-player campaign delivers a scripted storyline centered on crime, heists, and character arcs. The two modes were released separately, with GTA Online launching in 2013 and receiving ongoing updates, while the single-player game was released in 2013 as a standalone narrative experience.