The narrative brilliance came from the switching mechanic. With the press of a button, players could jump from Michael’s therapy session to Franklin’s street race to Trevor’s rampage in the desert. This kept the pacing brisk and allowed for a storytelling scope that no other open-world game had attempted before.

and various rival gangs. The narrative builds toward the "Big Score"—a heist on the Union Depository to steal millions in gold. The Endings

The game concludes with Franklin being forced to choose between three paths: Ending A (Kill Trevor): Franklin kills Trevor at the behest of the FIB. Ending B (Kill Michael): Franklin kills Michael on the orders of billionaire Devin Weston Ending C (The Third Way):