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If you've played through Grand Theft Auto V's story, you might have questions about how certain endings play out, what happens to characters later, and how the story connects to GTA Online. This guide breaks it down from one player to another, focusing on how things work in the game's world.
What is "The Third Way" Ending?
Most players consider "The Third Way" the canonical and most satisfying story conclusion. It's the option where Franklin refuses to kill either Michael or Trevor. Instead, all three protagonists work together to eliminate their common enemies permanently. In practice, this mission serves as the game's final grand shootout. You systematically take out the mercenaries from the FIB and Merryweather in an ambush, followed by a series of targeted killings. Michael kills Stretch to tie up loose ends for Franklin, Franklin kills Wei Cheng, and Trevor deals with Steve Haines. The final act involves kidnapping Devin Weston. The trio taunts him before pushing his car off a cliff, ensuring he can never threaten their families again. This ending allows all three characters to survive, make peace, and ostensibly retire from major crime while remaining friends.
What Happens to Michael After the Story?
According to GTA Online updates set after 2020, Michael successfully retired into a legitimate life as a famous Vinewood film producer. He runs his own company, De Santa. While he's out of the heist game, he hasn't lost his edge. In the "A Safehouse in the Hills" contact mission in GTA Online (2025), Michael meets the online protagonist, who is his new neighbor. He later proves he's "still got it" by helping fend off a mercenary attack on the player's property. His relationship with Trevor is mended, and he remains married to Amanda. For players looking to experience the game with all resources unlocked from the start, some seek out gta 5 modded accounts ps5 available on U4N, though it's important to understand the risks and terms of service involved with such methods.
Who Does Michael Kill in the Story?
Michael has a substantial body count, split between scripted kills and optional player choices. His key canonical murders are driven by protecting his family or furthering a heist. Key targets include Jay Norris (to get Lester back), Tahir Javan (for the FIB), the O'Neil brothers (for Trevor), Rocco Pelosi (for Solomon Richards), Stretch, and Devin Weston. He also kills numerous Merryweather mercenaries sent after his family. Many other kills are optional, depending on player action during missions or Strangers and Freaks encounters. It's worth noting that several characters Michael can potentially kill in GTA V (like Simeon Yetarian or Isiah Friedlander) are confirmed to still be alive in GTA Online timelines, making those deaths non-canon.
How is Michael Described Physically?
The game consistently portrays Michael as a man past his prime but still formidable. He is in his late 40s during GTA V, overweight with a heavy build, standing 6'2". NPCs and files note his poor hygiene from smoking and drinking. His movement is slower and less agile than Franklin's or Trevor's, reflecting his age and decade of retirement. By 2025 in GTA Online, his model shows visible aging—wrinkles and grey hair—but he demonstrates he has maintained a degree of physical capability by handling himself in a firefight.
How Does GTA Online Connect to Michael's Story?
GTA Online gradually integrates the story characters into its world. Franklin appears as a central contact in "The Contract" update (2021), running a celebrity agency. Michael reappears in 2025 as a supporting character. These appearances are designed to feel like natural extensions of their story endings. When you meet Michael in Online, he acknowledges the player's reputation and past deeds, creating a bridge between the online protagonist's world and the story mode. It shows Michael is still connected to the criminal underworld through contacts, even if he is no longer an active participant.
In general, the post-story content reinforces that "The Third Way" is the true conclusion. Michael and Trevor are alive, their feud is over, and they have moved on to quieter, if not entirely peaceful, lives. The online events use these characters sparingly to add depth for longtime fans without undermining their story endings.
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