Is gta online part of the same game as story mode?

Grand Theft Auto Online is explicitly described as the online component of Grand Theft Auto V, meaning it is not a separate game but an extension of the same title. Both modes take place in the same open-world environment of San Andreas, including Los Santos, and utilize the core framework of GTA V's single-player campaign. While the story mode focuses on a linear narrative with three protagonists, GTA Online offers a persistent online world where up to 30 players can engage in cooperative or competitive activities. The two modes are distinct in gameplay structure—story mode is single-player with scripted events, while Online features player-driven missions, businesses, and economies—but they are fundamentally integrated as parts of the same game. Players typically access Online through the main GTA V menu, reinforcing their connection as complementary elements of one title.