Grand Theft Auto 5 has remained one of the most successful entertainment products of all time through a variety of factors. It features an incredibly detailed world for players to explore, and it is packed with countless random encounters and secrets to discover. GTA 5 also has plenty of activities for gamers to partake in. For calmer souls, there is golfing, tennis, and yoga, while for the adrenaline junkies there is parachuting, heists, and drag racing. Excitement is never too far, and all it takes is letting off a few gunshots to ignite a high-speed police chase.

What makes Grand Theft Auto 5 different from its predecessors is its inclusion of three protagonists that players can easily switch between. Each character offers a unique perspective of Los Santos, and they also each have their own special ability. Their lives intertwine in interesting and unpredictable ways, and though they may be vastly different, they often find themselves having to work together. To accommodate the three protagonists, GTA 5 offers three separate endings for players to choose from. The ending that players select is dependent on how they view the three protagonists and their stories, and each ending offers a different interpretation of prior events.

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Who Are The Protagonists?

grand theft auto 5 franklin trevor and michael

Michael Townley is a criminal mastermind with a knack for pulling off intricate heists. However, he betrays his crew by faking his death and striking a deal with Dave who works for the FIB (Grand Theft Auto's version of the FBI). Through this underhanded deal, Michael can live a normal, leisurely life in the suburbs of Los Santos. However, he is unable to escape from his past forever, and he soon finds that the quiet suburban life may not be the thing that satisfies him.

Michael eventually crosses paths with the second protagonist in the game, Franklin Clinton. Franklin is a hard worker, but his life does not seem to be going in the direction he wants it to. He has big dreams, but he is surrounded by friends like Lamar, who do not share his aspirations. When he meets Michael, Franklin believes that he could be his ticket to the good life. Michael also likes Franklin, and he treats him like a son. As Franklin is dragged into the world of heists by Michael, he finds himself torn between his loyalty to the friends he grew up with, and his lust for everything bigger and better.

Perhaps the biggest oddball in the GTA 5 trio is Trevor Philips. Insane, violent, impulsive, self-destructive, and reckless are just a few words that describe him. Trevor was part of Michael's old gang, and he well and truly believes that Michael is dead until he discovers that he has been duped. As immoral as he may be, Trevor does feel hurt and betrayed by Michael's actions because he values loyalty. Things get worse when Trevor realizes that in Michael's master plan, it was Trevor that was supposed to get killed during the botched heist, not Brad.

Through a series of wacky events, Michael finds himself back in the world of heists with Franklin and Trevor at his side, and plenty of enemies are made. Michael finds himself on the hit-list of the billionaire Devin Weston while Trevor lands in the crosshairs of Steve and Dave of the FIB. Consequently, the last mission of the game leaves Franklin with three choices: kill Trevor for Steve and Dave, kill Michael for Devin, or take the third "Deathwish" option.

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The Three Endings Explained

Franklin in GTA 5

Each GTA 5 ending has its own advantages and drawbacks, and they may make players reflect on the plot differently. Ending A has Franklin enlisting Michael's help to kill Trevor. He does so by trying to isolate him, but when Trevor figures out what is going on, a car chase ensues that ends when Michael crashes into Trevor, whose car then collides with a truck carrying oil. Franklin then takes the opportunity to kill Trevor, leaving Franklin and Michael to walk off into their new lives.

On the surface, ending A does not seem like the most foolish option. Trevor has a few screws loose, and by the end of the game, he is a cannibalistic killer. With Trevor out of the picture, Michael never has to worry about him getting revenge, and the FIB are left satisfied too. There is a downside, however. Through Trevor's death, Michael once again betrays his partner in crime, which may leave players feeling as though Michael has not had any character growth. For Franklin, his murder of Trevor confirms some of the worst aspects of his personality, and it reveals that he, like Michael, is willing to do whatever it takes for personal gain.

Ending B has Franklin killing Michael who dies after falling from a tower. Franklin walks off after calling Lamar and mending his relationship with him. This ending is good in many ways. Franklin realizes that the pursuit of the American dream may not be worth it after all and that the friends he grew up with are more valuable to him. However, by killing Michael, Franklin betrays someone who was a mentor to him, and he robs Michael's family of a father.

The most daring GTA 5 ending is Ending C, also known as the Deathwish. This has Franklin ignoring both the FIB and Devin, choosing instead to work with Michael and Trevor to take out all their enemies. This option is probably the most popular because it allows all three characters to remain playable post-game. Franklin also does not have to betray any of his friends. The downside, of course, is that none of the protagonists get their comeuppance for their misdeeds throughout the game. Michael's betrayal of Trevor goes unpunished, Franklin is the same person he was at the beginning but just a little richer, and Trevor is free to be a remorseless psychopath. It may be a feel-good ending, but it lacks a certain cathartic element.

While there is no wrong choice, a recent GTA: Online update does confirm one of the endings as canonical. Regardless, what players choose is entirely up to them, and they are free to take out Michael or Trevor or choose to save them both.

Grand Theft Auto 5 is available now on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. An expanded and enhanced edition is set to release on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in March 2022.

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