Today a small downloadable title update will be released on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. Once installed, you get direct access to begin GTA Online, which will be unlocked in the GTA5 game menu.

It’s set a few months prior to the events of GTA5’s single-player story. To prevent griefing, Rockstar has designed house party invitations specifically to be a friendly social affair where players can visit each other’s houses without fear of having them ruined or losing their vehicles.

“If someone invites you into their property, then it is considered a friendly visit and you will not be able to shoot up their place or steal their cars from their garage,” Rockstar said.

“By the way, in any given lobby, if you and another player own the same piece of property, you will each be able to enter your own personal instance of that property at any given time,” Rockstar continued. “You will also be able to enter each other’s instance of that property if you exchange and accept an invite. This way, multiple instances of ownership of the same property within a lobby can co-exist.”

Rockstar then, again, addressed the thorny issue of GTA Online micro-transactions, which was revealed last week.

“To allay some concerns we’ve heard on this subject, we can assure you that the game is designed such that the option of purchasable GTA$ should not disrupt the playing field – and there are a few mechanics in place to help ensure that,” Rockstar explained.

“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’.”

Rockstar also pledged to tweak all areas of the game to make I fairer and iron out any balancing problems.

You can jump into GTA Online via the fourth (bottom) slot in your GTA5 character wheel right now in the United Kingdom after downloading the small update. You can read more about what is available in GTA V on Rockstar Newswire