Look, let’s be real for a second. You aren't playing Grand Theft Auto V on your PS4 in 2026 because you're looking for a brand-new experience. You're likely doing it because you want to hit that 100% completion mark, or maybe you’re just nostalgic for the chaos of Franklin, Michael, and Trevor. But here is the thing: a GTA 5 walkthrough PS4 guide shouldn't just be a list of "go here, shoot that." It’s about navigating the weird technical quirks of the console version and making sure you don't mess up the Stock Market assassinations that actually fund your endgame empire.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours in this version of Los Santos. I remember the first time I realized that if you don't time the Lester missions right, you basically end up broke. It sucks. You’re stuck with a few hundred thousand dollars while the "rich" players are buying up every property in the game. That’s the first mistake most people make. They rush the story. Stop doing that.
The prologue and why your driving matters early on
The game starts in North Yankton. It’s snowy, it’s linear, and it’s basically a tutorial disguised as a heist. You’re being taught how to shoot, how to take cover, and how to switch characters. If you’re playing on the PS4, the R2 trigger is your life. But honestly? The real game doesn't start until you’re Franklin, reposessing a car in the sun-drenched streets of South Los Santos.
Early on, focus on Franklin’s special ability. Slowing down time while driving is literally the difference between a Gold Medal and a "Mission Failed" screen. When you're doing the "Franklin and Lamar" mission, don't just floor it. Use the L3 and R3 buttons together. It’s a mechanic people often forget exists until they’re mid-air about to hit a semi-truck.
You’ll encounter Michael soon after. His ability is different—bullet time. If you’re struggling with the PS4's analog stick precision, Michael is your best friend. He makes headshots trivial. But don’t get too comfortable. Trevor shows up eventually, and his "Rampage" mode turns the game into a completely different beast where you just soak up damage like a sponge.
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Stop doing the Lester Assassinations immediately
This is the single most important piece of advice in any GTA 5 walkthrough PS4 enthusiasts should follow. After the first mandatory assassination mission (The Hotel Assassination), stop. Do not touch another one of those "L" icons on your map until the final heist, "The Big Score," is finished.
Why? Because Lester’s missions manipulate the in-game stock market. If you have $20 million from the final heist and you dump it all into the right stock before an assassination, you can turn that into $200 million. If you do it when you only have $5,000, you’ve wasted the opportunity. You’ll never be able to afford the Golf Club (which costs $150,000,000) if you do these missions too early. It’s a math game disguised as a crime spree.
How the stocks actually work on PS4
- Betta Pharmaceuticals: Invest before the Hotel Assassination.
- Debonaire: Invest before the Multi-Target Assassination.
- Fruit: Invest before the Vice Assassination.
- Vapid: Invest after the Bus Assassination (wait for the dip).
- Gold Coast: Invest before the Construction Assassination.
You have to wait. Check your phone. Open the LCN or BAWSAQ markets. It’s tedious, but seeing that profit percentage climb to 80% is a rush that the actual shooting missions can't match.
Navigating the mid-game slump
Around the time you get to the "By the Book" mission—the one with the controversial interrogation—the game can feel like it’s dragging. You’re jumping between three characters, and the map is huge. On the PS4, the loading times when switching characters are... well, they aren't PS5 speeds. You have time to grab a snack.
To keep things moving, focus on the Strangers and Freaks. Some of them are just flavor, but others, like the Tonya towing missions, actually unlock properties and income. Also, keep an eye out for the random encounters (those little blue or red dots that pop up). One of them involves returning a stolen bike to a guy who turns out to be a millionaire. He’ll give you $100,000 in Animal Ark stock later. It’s these tiny details that make the PS4 version feel alive even years later.
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Heist setups: Choosing your crew
Don't always pick the cheapest crew members. It’s tempting. You want a bigger cut for the main characters. But if you pick a cheap driver for the "Jewel Store Job," they might crash and lose half the loot. However, if you pick a cheap gunman for a mission where they don't do much, their stats will actually go up for the next heist without them demanding a higher percentage.
It’s about leveling them up. Use the same "cheap" crew members consistently. By the time you reach the final heist, they’ll have high stats but still only take a 7% or 10% cut. That’s how you maximize the take.
The technical side of the PS4 version
We have to talk about performance. GTA 5 on the PS4 runs at 30 frames per second. Mostly. When you’re tearing through downtown Los Santos in a Zentorno, you will see frame drops. It’s just the nature of the hardware. To mitigate this, some players find that turning off the "In-Game Depth of Field" in the display settings helps things feel a bit snappier.
Also, the Touchpad. It’s a gimmick mostly, but you can swipe it to change weapons or tap it to change camera views. I find the first-person mode on PS4 to be a bit claustrophobic because of the Field of View (FOV) limitations, but it’s worth trying during a shootout just to see the high-res textures of the guns.
Achieving the 100% Checklist
Getting 100% completion in a GTA 5 walkthrough PS4 run isn't just about the story. You only need to do 50 of the 58 "Strangers and Freaks" missions, and only specific ones count. You also need to do:
- All 21 Hobbies and Pastimes (including getting a private dance at the Strip Club—yes, really).
- 20 Random Events.
- 16 "Miscellaneous" tasks like going to the cinema or playing fetch with Chop.
- All 50 Spaceship Parts and 50 Letter Scraps.
The Spaceship Parts are a nightmare without a map. Use the in-game internet or a second-screen map on your real-life phone. Flying the Buzzard or the Frogger helicopter is the only sane way to collect these. If you try to do it by car, you’ll be playing until 2030.
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Hidden secrets most players miss
Did you know there's a ghost on Mount Gordo? Go there between 23:00 and 00:00. It’s a weird, haunting detail that ties back to the lore of Leonora Johnson. Or the underwater UFO near Paleto Bay? You need a submersible for that one.
The PS4 version actually has more "life" in terms of NPC density than the original PS3 version, which makes these Easter egg hunts more interesting. You’ll see more hikers on the trails and more traffic on the highways. Sometimes, just standing on a street corner and listening to the NPC dialogue is more entertaining than the actual missions. Rockstar’s writers were in rare form with the social satire here.
Improving your character stats
Don't ignore the Shooting Range or the Flight School. Seriously. Completing the Flight School as Michael or Franklin significantly reduces the "turbulence" effect when you’re flying planes. It makes the "Minor Turbulence" mission way less frustrating.
For Strength, don't just get into fights with random NPCs; you’ll get a 3-star wanted level in seconds. Instead, find a friend to play tennis with or just punch a bus. For some reason, hitting a bus (with no driver inside) counts toward your strength stat and doesn't always alert the cops. It's a classic GTA quirk.
The endgame: What to do after the credits
Once the "C" option is chosen (and let’s be honest, everyone chooses Option C), you’re left with three living protagonists and a lot of cash—assuming you followed my advice about Lester.
Now is the time to buy the businesses. The Los Santos Customs in the Grand Senora Desert is a great one for Franklin because it makes all his car upgrades free. The McKenzies Field Hangar is fun for Trevor if you like smuggling missions. But the real goal is the Cinema properties. They generate the most weekly income, even if they take forever to pay for themselves.
The PS4 version also includes the "Wildlife Photography Challenge" for Franklin. If you photograph all the animals, you unlock the Kraken Submersible. It's a nice little extra that wasn't in the original release.
Actionable Steps for your PS4 Playthrough
To get the most out of your time in San Andreas, follow this specific order of operations. It’ll save you time and frustration.
- Priority 1: Focus on the main story until you unlock all three characters. This opens up the full map and all gameplay mechanics.
- Priority 2: Level up Franklin's driving and Michael's shooting early. Use the Shooting Range at Ammu-Nation; it’s boring but effective.
- Priority 3: Save at least $50,000 before doing the first Lester mission, then dump it all into Betta Pharmaceuticals.
- Priority 4: Collect the Letter Scraps as you go. Don't leave them all for the end, or you'll burn out.
- Priority 5: Finish the main story (The Big Score) before doing the remaining four Lester assassinations.
- Priority 6: Use your billions to buy the Los Santos Golf Club and the various cinemas to secure permanent passive income.
At the end of the day, Grand Theft Auto V on the PS4 is a massive game. It’s easy to get lost in the side content, but if you keep your eye on the stock market and your crew selection, you'll end the game as a billionaire with a garage full of supercars. Just remember to save often—manual saves in your safehouse are more reliable than the autosave when you're about to drop millions on the stock market.