Because GTA V refuses to die. It’s a zombie game that keeps selling. In 2026, it sold over 10 million copies in a single year. For a game that came out in 2013.
Part of that is GTA Online, the chaotic multiplayer mode. It launched two weeks after the base game, on October 1, 2013. That’s where the real money is made.
Rockstar updates it every few months with new cars, heists, and absurd stuff like flying motorcycles that shoot rockets. It’s basically a digital theme park for adults.
Funny fact: The game’s first-person mode (added in 2014) was a last-minute idea. A developer literally said, “What if we stick the camera on a helmet?” And boom—immersive vomiting for motion-sick players.
The Numbers Are Bonkers
As of 2026, GTA V has sold over 195 million copies. That’s more than the population of the United Kingdom. Twice. It’s the second best-selling game ever, only behind Minecraft.
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Think about that. A game about running over hookers and robbing banks has outsold every Call of Duty and FIFA. It’s the anti-hero of gaming.
And the release date? It’s become a meme. Every year, fans joke: “Is GTA 6 coming out?” Nope. Rockstar just giggles and drops another GTA V DLC. The game is literally older than some of its players.
Remember: September 17, 2013. Mark it on your calendar. It’s the day we all agreed that running from the cops in a stolen tank was a valid career path.
So, when was GTA V released? Simple: in 2013. But also in 2014, 2015, and 2026. It’s the game that refuses to retire. Like that one weird uncle who still parties at family reunions.
Next time you play, take a moment. Spawn on Mount Chiliad. Watch the sunset over Los Santos. Remember: this digital world started on a Tuesday. And it’s still going strong.
Now go listen to “Radio Los Santos” and steal a jet. You’ve earned it.
