Back in 2013, Grand Theft Auto V arrived on machines that now feel almost ancient, and yet people are still loading into Los Santos like it's part of the weekly routine. That's the strange bit. Most games from that era are remembered, maybe replayed once, then left alone. GTA V didn't do that. It moved from PS3 and Xbox 360 to PS4 and Xbox One, then made the jump again to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Players still grind heists, chase cars, mess about with friends, and look for ways to build up GTA 5 Money because the online world keeps giving them something to spend it on.
Why the sales number still shocks people
Take-Two's latest 2026 update puts GTA V close to 230 million copies sold worldwide. That number doesn't just sound big. It's hard to place next to normal game sales at all. A strong release might sell a few million. A huge hit might keep moving for several years. GTA V has been selling for more than a decade, and not in some quiet background way either. It still shows up in charts, still gets talked about, and still pulls in new players who were too young to play it when it first launched.
Los Santos never really stood still
A lot of that staying power comes from GTA Online. The single-player campaign helped make the game famous, of course. Michael, Franklin, and Trevor are still part of gaming culture. But the online side turned Los Santos into a place people kept returning to. One week it's a business update. Another week it's new cars, discounts, bonuses, races, or some ridiculous mode nobody expected to enjoy as much as they did. You jump in for a quick session, then somehow you're still there two hours later, arguing over a failed setup mission.
Three console generations is not normal
What makes GTA V's run feel even stranger is how many times players have bought it again. First it was the original release. Then came improved versions with better visuals and first-person mode. Later, the current-gen editions added faster loading, sharper performance, and small quality-of-life touches. Sure, some people joked about Rockstar selling the same game forever. Fair enough. But clearly plenty of players felt the upgrades were worth it, or at least worth having so their crew could stay together on newer hardware.
The game still has a busy future
Even with GTA 6 on the horizon, GTA V doesn't look ready to disappear overnight. There's too much history in it now, and too many players have garages, businesses, apartments, weapons, and habits built up over years. Some will move on fast. Others will keep dropping back in, especially when friends are around or when they want quick access to currency and in-game items through services such as RSVSR buy cheap GTA 5 Money while keeping their focus on the parts of Los Santos they actually enjoy. That's why the sales figure feels less like a goodbye and more like another marker in a very long run.