How GTA 5’s Ending Differs From Grand Theft Auto 4’s

Grand Theft Auto 5 differs from its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto 4, in many ways, including its use of player choice. While the canon ending of GTA 5 is unclear, evidence points to Ending C, “The Third Way,” which gives players a path out of the game’s violent cycles – something not seen in GTA 4‘s much bleaker conclusion.

[The following contains SPOILERS for GTA 4 and GTA 5.]

GTA 4‘s Liberty City is populated with choices, but many of these just involve players deciding between helping one character or another. They begin with the option to spare minor characters players won’t see again, then build to decisions about the lives of key allies, sometimes including competing interests in the same family. GTA 4‘s final three missions are determined by protagonist Niko’s choice between making a deal with the Russian mafia or continuing his revenge against them. Either way, tragedy strikes, and someone dies at his cousin Roman’s wedding: Kate McReary, with whom Niko had a budding relationship, or Roman himself. These mortal consequences reiterate the game’s themes of inescapable cycles of violence that cause tragedy to bystanders, and the story concludes with Niko seemingly dissatisfied with his ultimate revenge

GTA 5′s ending instead provides a way out of that cycle – a definitive end to the main characters’ strife. The final mission gives Franklin the choice to sacrifice either Trevor (known as Ending A) at the behest of the FIB or Michael (Ending B) on the orders of billionaire Devin Weston. Ending C – “The Third Way,” prompted by Franklin selecting the “Deathwish” option – lets all the protagonists live if they successfully complete a three-pronged attack on their many enemies. This action-packed, multi-tiered mission and triumphant ending is commonly thought to be GTA 5‘s canon ending, and it delivers a very different message from GTA 4‘s.

GTA 5’s Ending Is Far More Hopeful Than Grand Theft Auto 4’s

In Ending C, Franklin, Michael, and Trevor work together to fight off both FIB agents and Merryweather mercenaries – foot soldiers of a corrupt business-government alliance. Once that’s finished, they split up to cover one another’s enemies: Michael kills Stretch, an older gangster from Franklin’s neighborhood who tried several times to betray them; Franklin takes out Wei Cheng, a Triad boss who made enemies of Michael and Trevor; and Trevor kills corrupt FIB agent Steve Haines, then kidnaps Devin Weston. The protagonist trio then drives him to the beach in the trunk of his own car and pushes it into the ocean. It’s an ending that ties up all the loose ends, making for an even more satisfying conclusion than any of the previous Grand Theft Auto games.

While Grand Theft 4 and GTA 5 both satirize American culture through tales of gangland violence and men with haunting pasts, GTA 5 is thematically lighter. The false binary choice between killing Michael and killing Trevor is a red herring. It attempts to convince players they can’t have it all, reiterating the tragedy of GTA 4, but the “Deathwish” ending provides just that. It is the most satisfying ending not just because it keeps all the characters alive and ties all the story threads together but because it is the most fleshed out, from a gameplay standpoint. It sees players do a variety of unique tasks around the map that are emblematic of both GTA 5‘s core gameplay and narrative tone.

Whether Roman or Kate died in Grand Theft Auto 4 had no bearing on GTA 5, and GTA 5‘s best ending may likewise not impact GTA 6. But, if GTA 6 picks up where Grand Theft Auto 5 left off, it will likely remember Michael, Trevor, and Franklin’s lives and friendship survived the end of their business partnership – a departure from the series’ previous blockbuster entry.

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Kevin Fox
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Kevin Fox, Jr. is a freelance writer. He holds degrees in history from Loyola University New Orleans and Villanova University. He loves videogames, film, comics, sports, and people. He tweets sometimes @kevinfoxjr.

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