It’s no secret that Franklin has the option to kill either Michael or Trevor at the end of the GTA 5 storyline. However, Franklin also has an option not to kill neither Michael nor Trevor, but all of them have to kill Stretch, Wei Cheng, Steve Haines, and Devin Weston.

For years, GTA 5 fans have been curious about which is the canonical ending according to Rockstar. Luckily, this question has been answered indirectly by Rockstar with the release of the Diamond Casino DLC in 2019.

So, what’s the story? Find out more about the canonical ending of GTA 5 here.

Option C: Deathwish

If Franklin chooses Option C: (Deathwish), “The Third Way” will begin. In this mission, Franklin is put in a difficult situation as Devin Weston tells him to kill Michael. And, he’s also being told to kill Trevor by Steve Haines and Dave Norton.

But since Franklin couldn’t kill both of them, he asks for Lester’s help. Lester then proposes an idea to save Michael, Franklin, and Trevor from this headache.

Lester also tells both Steve Haines (with his FIB squad) and Devin Weston (backed with Merryweather). that Michael, Trevor, and Franklin are at the steel mill in Murrieta Heights. Therefore, FIB and Merryweather storm the place to hunt down Michael, Trevor, and Franklin.

Thanks to Lester and Lamar’s help, the three of them are able to surround and kill the FIB and Merryweather. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re completely safe from Steve Haines and Devin Weston.

Tao Cheng, the Key Character of Deathwish

After killing FIB and Merryweather men, the three protagonists are getting rid of the remaining threats. The targets are Steve Haines, Stretch, Wei Cheng, and Devin Weston.

Trevor goes out to kill Steve Haines, Michael targets Stretch, Franklin kills Wei Cheng, and after that, they go after Devin Weston.

Franklin encounters Wei Cheng as he’s about to leave a Country Club in Chumash. In the same car, Wei’s son, Tao Cheng, is sitting next to him wearing a light-blue shirt without wearing his sunglasses.

Although it’s possible for Franklin to kill Tao Cheng, it’s not part of the GTA 5 storyline. That’s because Franklin’s main target is Wei Cheng, and the story will still be completed if Franklin lets Tao Cheng live.

Tao Cheng’s Return to the GTA Universe

Five years after the incident, Tao Cheng makes his return with the arrival of the Diamond Casino DLC in GTA Online. It’s told that the Diamond Casino is owned by the Cheng family, managed by Tao and his sister, Georgina Cheng. However, they can’t run their business in peace with Avery Duggan trying to take over the Diamond Casino.

In the Casino mission titled “Strong Arm Tactics”, Avery Duggan can be seen negotiating with Tao Cheng regarding the acquisition of the Casino. But the meeting doesn’t go well and ends with a shootout.

After surviving the crossfire, Tao Cheng asks to be escorted to Agatha Baker, who’s at the Country Club. On his way there, Tao Cheng says:

我曾經差點在這個鄉村俱樂部被殺，一次就夠了！

“I almost got killed at this country club before. Once is enough already!”

Based on how Tao Cheng recounts his trauma, it’s clear that Option C: “Deathwish” is Rockstar’s canonical ending for GTA V. Because, Trevor appears twice in GTA Online, which takes place years after the GTA 5 main storyline. Thus, Option A (kill Trevor) is clearly uncanonical.

While Michael’s whereabouts after the GTA 5 ending are still unclear, based on Tao Cheng’s words, it is safe to assume that, when it comes to the main storyline, Franklin didn’t kill Michael.

So, what do you think? Do you agree with this theory that says Option C is Rockstar’s canonical ending for GTA 5? Let us know in the comments below!

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