GTA Online Goes Live Today, Micro-transactions 'Should Not Disrupt Playing Field'

Grand Theft Auto Online is set to go live today and Rockstar has outlined some of the key things you need to know to get playing. It has also piped up to say that the controversial inclusion of GTA dollars that you can buy for real cash "should not disrupt the playing field".

The multiplayer content will become available via a downloadable title update. Rockstar hasn't given a precise time for this, but says that "As a general timeframe, we do expect the Title Update to become available on PSN and Xbox LIVE starting around 12PM (British time) today".

Rockstar outlined some of the game elements it reckons will stop GTA$ from 'disrupting the playing field'. The company said, "All players still have to rank up with Reputation Points (RP) in order to get access to purchase high-end items. No one can begin GTA Online and simply spend a lot of money out of the gate to get a leg up. You will have to earn your stripes and play to unlock access to the aspirational clothes, guns and other items.

"Please also remember that in GTA Online, hustling to afford the finer things by earning GTA$ doing robberies, stick-ups, winning races and other profitable activities is a fun gameplay experience rather than ever being a ‘grind’. As we mentioned on Wednesday, we will constantly tweak all areas of the game to make it play fairer and iron out any balancing problems (while fixing all the other problems we encounter!), but we really need your help in figuring out what those issues are. So please work with us on that!"

In terms of how it fits with GTA V story-wise, "Grand Theft Auto Online is set a few months prior to the events of Grand Theft Auto V’s single player story."

There's more, but instead of regurgitating the whole lot we've put it up here for you to peruse at your leisure.