Grand Theft Auto V hit consoles last week and managed to rake in over $1 billion in sales despite the huge amount of controversy and problems running on what can now be considered ancient console gaming hardware. With no PC release still announced as of yet, Rockstar today revealed more about the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto Online (GTAO).

GTAO will release free for GTAV owners, adding a massive multiplayer world for players to cooperate or compete in. But Rockstar does warn that this is something a bit new for them, so players may experience a bit of a rough time for the first few weeks. So if you’re primarily a console player and have never experienced a PC-style stress testing or beta environment plagued by connectivity and performance issues that will be tweaked during the first few weeks of release - you’ve been warned.

Once GTAO is out the gate and in player’s hands a few things will happen. Players will be able to provide feedback to Rockstar, which they are calling on players to do. That feedback will be used to help refine GTAO’s features and online performance as well as dictate the focus of future content design focus. Rockstar plans to develop a constant stream of new content and updates based on the feedback and metrics of what players appear to like and dislike along with a handy set of creation tools for players to make their own content with.

At launch, up to 16 players will be able to play together in GTAO where they can play alone or together in a number of different activities. A few other things that the devs have planned for the first few weeks of GTAO include the following:

• The Content Creator: The Content Creator will launch with tools to tailor and publish your own Deathmatches & Races. 
• The Beach Bum Pack: Featuring 4 new amazing beach fun vehicles, over 300 new items of incredible down tempo leisure wear and 2 new but not remotely relaxing weapons.
• Capture the Flag: GTA Online’s take on the classic CTF mode including the ability to make your own using The Content Creator.
• Heists: This update will introduce full-on cooperative Heist missions that will require careful planning, teamwork and sharp execution – along with the Heist Planning Board for your apartment.

GTAV currently still has no PC release date, though "rumors" of that impending announcement are making their rounds on the web. It’s unfortunate that PC still gets shafted on release day still, especially given that it’s the ideal platform for supporting a game like GTAV with its rather hefty amount of system demands that seem to be taxing some of our now older consoles into submission.

In any case, when it finally does hit PC maybe we’ll get it with all the trimmings. GTAO included. Our own Xerin has his opinions about the PC delay. Be sure to see what he thinks and let us know your opinions. As for GTAO's release, if Rockstar's previous announcement remains accurate, we should be seeing it launch in some form for consoles around October 1st, 2013.

Source: Rockstar Newswire