As a new player, finish the tutorial, collect any starter rewards your character qualifies for, and try a few missions before committing to an expensive purchase. Contact missions and the Cluckin’ Bell Farm Raid offer ways to learn and earn; check the current weekly bonus activity in-game because featured rewards change. If you have access to Career Builder, choose carefully: it is a one-time start option on specific versions.
What should you do first in GTA Online?
Finish the tutorial
The tutorial introduces core activities and gives you a personal vehicle, cash, and rank progress. Rockstar’s 2021 starter tips recommend completing it before entering Freemode. The article’s menu labels are older, so controls and paths may differ in current versions.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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IRIPLEZO Grand Theft Auto V | $24.33 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Grand Theft Auto V Playstation 4 | $23.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Take 2 Interactive Grand Theft Auto 5 (PS5) | $24.25 | Buy on Amazon |
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Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition (Xbox One) | $24.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Grand Theft Auto VI - PlayStation 5 (Code in Box, Delivers 11/12/26, Playable 11/19/26) | $79.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Try different activities before specializing
Use Quick Join or choose Rockstar-created Contact Missions to get into jobs and practice driving, combat, and mission objectives. Rockstar’s older guide lists the path as Pause > Online > Jobs > Rockstar Created > Missions; check your current menus if the labels have changed. Varying activities gives you a feel for the game before you invest in a particular business or play style.
Does Career Builder apply to your character?
Career Builder is available for eligible new characters on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC Enhanced—not every platform or edition. Rockstar Support’s Career Builder overview, last updated April 29, 2024, says you can choose a Biker, Executive, Gunrunner, or Nightclub Owner path. It allocates GTA$4,000,000 for startup essentials, with up to GTA$1,000,000 available to carry forward as starting cash.
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- Please note that although this game is Region Free or Region Unlocked and will work on all systems, this is the European version and may differ from the local version in age rating, labeling or instructions.
You can use Career Builder only once. Deleting a character after using it does not restore access, so compare the paths and decide how much cash to spend before confirming your choice.
How can you earn early cash while learning?
Contact missions and weekly bonuses
Contact Missions are a practical way to learn mission basics while earning cash. Also check the current weekly bonus activities in-game: featured activities and rewards rotate, so an older guide’s recommendation may no longer be the best-paying option.
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Cluckin’ Bell Farm Raid
GameSpot’s July 2026 beginner guide describes the Cluckin’ Bell Farm Raid as playable solo and requiring no upfront capital. It reports a $500,000 reward and estimates a 45–60 minute run; those are guide figures, not guaranteed current payout or completion time. Check the in-game terms before planning around them.
Consider a progression route, not a required grind
A May 17, 2026 GTA Intel guide proposes completing First Dose missions to unlock the Acid Lab and then saving for the Kosatka. Its setup costs, payouts, and returns are third-party estimates that can change with game balance and activity conditions. Treat this as one possible route, not the only sensible way to progress.
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What should you buy first?
There is no single best first purchase: weigh upfront cost and setup against whether you want protection, story content, or an income activity. GameSpot’s July 2026 purchase guide offers these examples; verify current prices and prerequisites in-game before buying.
| Option | Why consider it | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Acid Lab | GameSpot describes it as comparatively affordable and solo-friendly, with early-income potential. | Requires the Brickade and Acid Lab setup. GameSpot lists a $750,000 Acid Lab upgrade and a $1,450,000 alternate Brickade purchase price; these are July 2026 guide figures and may change. |
| Agency | Adds story content and multiple earning activities. | Higher upfront cost than introductory activities or the Acid Lab; compare current costs and requirements. |
| Armored Kuruma | Offers strong protection against ordinary gunfire during missions. | A vehicle purchase competes with investments that unlock income, and it does not replace learning combat or mission mechanics. GameSpot lists $698,250 as its July 2026 price; check the in-game price. |
| Snacks and armor | Useful preparation for combat and missions. | Stock up through current in-game options; prices and availability can vary. |
Which session should you use while learning?
Invite-only sessions let you play activities and manage businesses without random players in the lobby, making them a calmer choice while learning. Public sessions provide a shared multiplayer experience but are less predictable. GameSpot also notes Passive Mode as an option to avoid incoming player damage, with limits on your ability to fight back. Keep snacks and armor available for combat, and bank carried cash regularly.
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- This product contains a download code inside the box — no disc is included. Customer shipments will begin arriving November 12 for pre-load; game is playable starting November 19. Code can only be used by users holding an account for PlayStation registered to the US or Canada.
- Pre-order to receive the Vintage Vice City Pack.
- Grand Theft Auto VI is a single-player experience.
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How should you decide what to do next?
- If the controls and mission flow are new, finish the tutorial and try Contact Missions.
- If you want a solo-capable activity without a large upfront purchase, consider the Cluckin’ Bell Farm Raid and confirm its current reward in-game.
- If Career Builder is available to your character, choose a path only after considering its one-time use and the cash you want to retain.
- Before buying a business or vehicle, check current costs, setup requirements, and weekly bonuses, then choose what suits your preferred way to play.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
