 Grand Theft Auto V is an open world action @-@ adventure video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games . It was released on 17 September 2013 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 , on 18 November 2014 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One , and on 14 April 2015 for Microsoft Windows . The game is the first main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series since 2008 's Grand Theft Auto IV . Set within the fictional state of San Andreas , based on Southern California , the single @-@ player story follows three criminals and their efforts to commit heists while under pressure from a government agency . The open world design lets players freely roam San Andreas 's open countryside and fictional city of Los Santos , based on Los Angeles . 
