Switch Scenes

The Switch Scenes (stylized as SWITCH Scenes in-game) are the small cutscenes that occur when the player switches from one playable character to another in free roam in Grand Theft Auto V. The cutscenes vary by player and circumstances going on in the game's storyline. Each character has a number of unique cutscenes.

About
The player is free to switch between any of the available characters at any time they want in free roam, unless the player has a wanted level, or is in the middle of a mission.

When the player switches to a new character, the camera will switch to an overhead view of the playable character, then zoom out three times (or fewer, depending on the player's altitude above the map). The camera will then pan along the world map of San Andreas and stop over where the new character is located, and zoom in up to three times. After the final zoom, the overhead camera will transition into a brief cinematic showing what the character is doing currently, which will vary from character to character.

If the two characters that the player is moving are close to each other, the camera will not zoom out, but rather do a more direct switch instead. There would also be no starting cinematic. Note, though, that this generally does not happen unless the player manually moves the two characters together.

Michael De Santa
Michael's switch scenes mostly seemed to be centred around his ruined home life or his self-loathing (or his success and steady lifestyle as the story progresses). Michael's switch scenes have the most variety as the storyline progresses, as some only appear at certain points in the storyline.

Post - Complications

 * Ending a call on his cellphone (Unavailable after Did Somebody Say Yoga?)
 * Telling off authority figures who try to cease him smoking in public.
 * Inside his Tailgater, stuck in a traffic jam.
 * Inside his car, sleeping.
 * Smoking on a canal in Vespucci.
 * Smoking outside Dr. Isiah Friedlander's office.
 * Smoking at the Los Santos Golf Club.
 * Sitting over Prosperity Street Promenade in Del Perro while talking on the phone with someone about money.
 * Riding a Scorcher bike over Lake Vinewood.
 * Walking away from a motel in La Puerta, implying that he almost had sex with a prostitute, but backed out (Unavailable after Reuniting the Family).
 * Walking out of a drugstore in Strawberry (Unavailable after Did Somebody Say Yoga?).
 * Leaning on a railing on the Del Perro Pier.
 * Sitting on the hood of his car in various places in Vinewood Hills, overlooking the city.
 * Sitting alongside a pool; either his own or The Richman Hotel's.
 * Angrily storming out of the Los Santos Golf Club.

Post - Father/Son

 * Leaning on a railing at the Puerto Del Sol Marina, commenting about either Jimmy or his boat (Unavailable after Reuniting the Family).
 * Flipping through television channels, and then defeatedly turning the TV off.
 * Getting up from watching TV.
 * Sitting quietly next to Jimmy in his mansion's living room.
 * Walking out of a Bean Machine, drinking a coffee.

Post - Marriage Counseling

 * Having an argumentative lunch with Amanda (Unavailable after Did Somebody Say Yoga?).
 * Fighting with Amanda in his mansion. Amanda's mascara is runny, implying she's been crying (Unavailable after Did Somebody Say Yoga?).
 * Waking up in bed in his mansion, Amanda having turned her back to him (Unavailable after Did Somebody Say Yoga?).
 * Dropping off Amanda in Rockford Hills (Unavailable after Did Somebody Say Yoga?).
 * Dropping off Jimmy in front of a Pawn Shop in Downtown Vinewood or in front of a Marijuana store in Alta (Unavailable after Did Somebody Say Yoga?).
 * Dropping off Tracey at Tequi-la-la or at the Prosperity Street Promenade (Unavailable after Did Somebody Say Yoga?).

Post - Did Somebody Say Yoga?

 * Waking up violently from a bad dream, realizing it was a dream, and getting dressed.
 * Leaving the Von Crastenburg Hotel.
 * Washing his face in the bathroom, telling himself to keep it together. His tone of voice implies he has been recently crying (Unavailable after Reuniting the Family).
 * Smoking at the Prosperity Street Promenade.
 * Smoking at a park in Vinewood Hills.
 * Exiting the Tivoli Cinema with a soda in hand, complaining about mainstream cinema.

Post- Caida Libre

 * Sitting outside of Trevor's trailer in a green armchair, talking to himself (Unavailable after Monkey Business).
 * Sleeping behind the wheel of his car (Unavailable after Monkey Business).
 * On a boat on the Alamo Sea (Unavailable after Monkey Business).
 * Sitting on the hood of his car in random locations across Blaine County.
 * Talking to Ron Jakowski in Trevor's trailer (Unavailable after Monkey Business).
 * Leaving the Yellow Jack Inn, wasted (Unavailable after Monkey Business).
 * Sitting on Trevor's couch, talking on the phone (Unavailable after Monkey Business).
 * Sitting in the green armchair outside Trevor's trailer, talking on the phone (Unavailable after Monkey Business).

Post - Reuniting the Family

 * Talking with a Richards Majestic Productions studio employee about his hopes regarding a new, unidentified, film production.
 * Near Heritage Way, about to leave Backlot City, telling a studio security guard to remember his face and that he is his boss.
 * Harassing a bouncer about him not knowing who he is.
 * Walking out of a random restaurant after having lunch with Solomon Richards.
 * Arguing with Tracey; starting off mad, but then calmly relenting.
 * Coming back from a bike ride with Jimmy.
 * Watching TV with Jimmy and Tracey, when he announces that he has to go and to enjoy whatever they're watching.
 * Walking by a group of prostitutes, whom he politely rejects and shows his wedding ring. (Despite this, the player may still hire one immediately after the cutscene; in addition, if the player waits for time to pass without Michael leaving the vicinity, the prostitutes will remain available for hire even during daylight hours.)
 * Holding the car door open for Amanda.
 * Giving money to Jimmy outside Rockford Plaza.
 * Giving money to Tracey outside Vinewood Plaza.
 * Getting out of bed, presumably having just had sex with Amanda. As he gets up she tries to playfully pull him back to keep him from going, but eventually lets go, playfully slapping Michael's behind.
 * Playing Righteous Slaughter 7 together with Jimmy and rage-quitting.
 * Next to his swimming pool, snuffing out a cigarette while pretending to tell Amanda that he's doing Yoga.
 * On a chair near the swimming pool using his tablet, before putting it on a chair and getting up.
 * At the Gentry Manor Hotel cafe, wrapping up a lunch date with Amanda. (Despite taking place after their reconciliation, Amanda will begin shouting at Michael if he loiters.)
 * Sitting on the hood of his car at random locations throughout the entire map.
 * Playing tennis with Amanda.
 * Sitting alongside The Richman Hotel's pool with Amanda.
 * Leaving Ponsonbys in Rockford Hills.
 * Leaving Bob Mulét.
 * Drinking coffee outside of a Bean Machine.

Post - Legal Trouble

 * Showing Jimmy the set of his new movie, who isn't too excited.

Unique Post-Mission Scenes
The player is automatically switched to Michael prior to completing the mission Hang Ten, in which he is in a phone conversation with Lester. Lester tells Michael that Trevor has taken over the Vanilla Unicorn. Michael agrees to meet there to plan the next mission.
 * After Father/Son - Getting out of a taxi in Morningwood near Tivoli Cinema.
 * After By The Book - Leaving Dave Norton in front of the FIB building.
 * After The Merryweather Heist - Driving his Premier and commenting on Trevor's idiocy in trying to pull the heist off.
 * After the first part of Blitz Play - Driving his Premier and saying "This is never gonna end, is it?".
 * After Paleto Score Setup - Leaning against his car, commenting on how he wishes he'd booked a hotel.
 * After Derailed - Leaving a motel in Paleto Bay after delivering the Aztec statue to Lester, saying "Lester better play right with that idol".
 * After Surveying the Score - Driving his car and saying "One more job and you're out, and this time, you really are". (Only seen if completed as Trevor.)
 * After Lamar Down - Driving back to Los Santos and irritably commenting, "Argh, couldn't they have popped him in the suburbs?"
 * After The Big Score - Driving back to his mansion, saying “Well, I never have to see him again."

Franklin Clinton
Franklin has the least variety in his switch scenes, and even as the storyline progresses, the change is minimal, only reflecting his life in his new Vinewood Hills home.

Post - Complications

 * Walking out of various businesses (24/7s, restaurants, Hornbills, and the Vanilla Unicorn), either saying goodbye to the employees, commenting on how he is drunk, or announcing he's leaving before they take advantage of him.
 * Stopping a fistfight between Ballas or other CGF members and Lamar.
 * Finishing off a cup of coffee outside The Taco Farmer in Strawberry, then throwing it away.
 * Walking out of a random smoke store, smelling his new weed with excitement.
 * Stuck in traffic in his Buffalo S, lamenting over Los Santos' traffic problems.
 * Cleaning his Buffalo S in his driveway at his house in Strawberry (Unavailable after The Hotel Assassination).
 * Cleaning his Bagger in various locations, saying “This motherfucker clean!”
 * Doing chin-ups at the Vespucci Beach Recreation Center.
 * Reading a book while lying on his bed (Unavailable after The Hotel Assassination).
 * Walking down the stairs to the Little Teapot's parking area and flirting with an attractive girl that is walking by.
 * Taking out the trash at his house, grumbling that his aunt Denise never bothers to do it (Unavailable after The Hotel Assassination).
 * Waking up from his bed (Unavailable after The Hotel Assassination).
 * Doing push-ups in his room or his backyard (Unavailable after The Hotel Assassination).

Post - Father/Son

 * Finishing a phone call with someone.
 * Stopping Lamar from taunting two police officers.
 * Playing with Chop in front of or behind his house (Unavailable after The Hotel Assassination).

Post - The Hotel Assassination

 * Saying goodbye to the attractive girl from the earlier encounter at the Little Teapot, who is leaving his home in a taxi, implying that she was a booty call.
 * Looking at a picture of him and Tanisha in his living room.
 * Lamenting how he still has to do chores in his new house as he takes out the garbage.
 * Ironing a shirt in his room.
 * Waking up from sleeping in his bed at his new house.
 * Snacking on some chips in his kitchen.
 * On the phone with an unknown person in his living room, saying how they should hang out sometime.
 * Lounging on his deck or by his pool.
 * Doing push-ups by his pool.
 * Walking out of his closet, having just put on some new clothes.
 * Typing on his laptop in the sitting room, which he then closes and walks away.
 * Dusting off some of the shelves in his sitting room.
 * Cleaning his Buffalo S in his driveway at his house in Vinewood Hills.
 * Cleaning his Bagger in his new driveway, saying “This motherfucker clean!”
 * Talking on the phone with someone, telling them to come by.
 * Turning off his TV and getting up.
 * Laying on his couch, reading a book.

Post - I Fought the Law...

 * Inside Hayes Autos garage in front of the checklist of vehicles to steal for Devin Weston (Unavailable after Pack Man).
 * Leaving Hayes Autos (Unavailable after Pack Man).

Post - Caida Libre

 * Playing with Chop in Vinewood Hills.

Unique Post-Mission Scenes
These unique Switch Scene will occur only if the player switches to Franklin right after or soon after completing a mission. In some cases with Franklin, the player will be automatically switched over to him after completing a mission.


 * After Complications - Talking on the phone with Lamar discussing that Simeon Yetarian just fired both of them.
 * After Marriage Counseling - In his house, talking with Tanisha, before she leaves frustrated.
 * Alternatively, he will be driving his Bagger and comment about Martin Madrazo (immediately after this mission completed).
 * After The Jewel Store Job - Having a conversation with Tanisha over the phone at the Vanilla Unicorn, where she shows disinterest at his newfound wealth and how he chose spend his money at a strip club.
 * After Hood Safari - Hiding behind a walls, evading a cop car looking for him, saying "Someone had to call the cops". (Only seen if completed as Trevor without bringing Franklin home.)
 * After The Merryweather Heist - Driving his Bagger and saying "Nuclear weapons? Crazy motherfucker."
 * After The Hotel Assassination - Looking around his new house gleefully while on the phone with Lester who once again tells Franklin that it is his.
 * After the first part of Blitz Play - Driving his Bagger and saying "Fuck those guys!".
 * After the second part of Blitz Play - Driving the getaway vehicle and saying "Man, one of these days I gotta get paid".
 * After I Fought The Law - Walking and saying "Man, when am I gonna get a paycheck for one of those jobs?".
 * After Caida Libre - Playing fetch with Chop in the park east of Vinewood Hills. Strangely, when the player gains control of him, the dog starts walking away and won't interact with Franklin anymore, possibly due a glitch. The true Chop, however, can be normally found in Franklin's Mansion (fixed in the enhanced version).
 * After Predator - Driving back to Los Santos with Chop and saying "Who's a good boy?".
 * After The Paleto Score - Driving back to Los Santos and saying "Back to fucking civilization".
 * After Derailed - Driving on his Bagger, being almost at the meeting point of the mission Monkey Business, saying "Agent Steve Haines... man".
 * After Monkey Business - Driving back to Los Santos and saying "Man, I better get government pension for this shit".
 * After Cleaning out the Bureau - Stuck in a traffic jam saying "Find the architect? Man, why am I still doing the grunt work?".
 * After Architect's Plans - Walking close to Darnell Bros., saying "Rob the FIB? Man, we are stupid."

Trevor Philips
Trevor's switch scenes are by far the most diverse of the three characters, and will vary all across San Andreas. He also has the most switch scenes of the three characters. Trevor's scenes tend to be more random and comedic compared to those of Michael and Franklin.

Post - Mr. Philips

 * Chasing a car alongside the Zancudo River.
 * Getting chased by the police down Route 68 with a two-star wanted level.
 * Harassing bouncers outside The Hen House (Unavailable if bought by him).
 * Aiming a gun at someone on a dock overlooking the Pacific Ocean, telling them to jump off.
 * Vomiting in a fountain at the Marlowe Vineyards.
 * Burying something (presumably a body) in the Grand Senora Desert.
 * Smoking on a couch outside his trailer.
 * Sticking his face in the sink in his trailer.
 * Smoking meth in his trailer.
 * Trying to flush a leg down his toilet.
 * Jerking off in his bathroom and wiping his hand on the wall.

Post - Nervous Ron

 * Standing outside the McKenzie Field Hangar, preparing to start a gunrunning mission (Only if bought by him).

Post - Friends Reunited

 * Standing near the De Santa residence, taking notes on a notepad (Unavailable after Fame or Shame).
 * Standing on Elysian Island, taking notes on a notepad.
 * Leaning against a wall on Forum Drive, taking notes on a notepad.
 * Trying to give Floyd a doll, despite his protests (Unavailable after Caida Libre).
 * Sitting on the couch in Floyd's Apartment, flipping through TV channels before standing up (Unavailable after Caida Libre).
 * Smashing a pineapple on the wall in front of Floyd (Unavailable after Caida Libre).
 * Cuddling with Floyd in his bed (Unavailable after Caida Libre).
 * Shoving one of Floyd's neighbors against a wall (Unavailable after Caida Libre).
 * Staring at people while they sunbathe on Vespucci Beach.
 * Starting a fight with a body-builder at the Muscle Sands Gym.
 * Taunting a vegan woman at a restaurant.
 * Pushing a person over the railing at the Puerto Del Sol Marina.
 * Throwing a Lost MC member into the Los Santos River from a bridge.
 * Harassing a homeless person.
 * Tying a person to a post underneath the Del Perro Pier.
 * Angrily leaving a business.
 * Vomiting in a fountain at a park in Burton, telling himself not to eat Indian people.
 * Eating out of a trash can.
 * Digging in a trash can before taking someone's taco, inspecting it, and throwing it at them.
 * Taking a musician's guitar and hitting him with it.
 * Photo-bombing a lady taking pictures of the Oriental Theater.
 * Yelling at bouncers after getting kicked out of the Vinewood Casino.
 * Yelling at security guards at The Richman Hotel.
 * Doing yoga moves at the Korean Pavilion.
 * Chasing a car down the Los Santos River.
 * Getting chased by police down the freeway with a two-star wanted level. Aside from being the only switch scene that places a character in immediate peril, the ability to switch characters is disabled until the wanted level is lost.
 * Driving down the freeway on a Faggio, riding next to another person on a scooter, a reference to the famous "scooter brothers" YouTube video.
 * Yelling at bouncers outside of various businesses, including The Split Kipper.
 * Getting thrown out the door of Inspector Knickers.
 * Getting thrown out of a hotel by security guards.
 * Drinking at the Vanilla Unicorn's bar.
 * Taunting men watching strippers at the Vanilla Unicorn.
 * Walking out of the Vanilla Univorn.
 * Scaring strippers out of the Vanilla Unicorn.
 * Waking up in his underwear on a bridge above the Los Santos River.
 * Waking up in a dumpster in Rancho.
 * Howling in a courtyard in Vinewood.

Post - Caida Libre

 * Yelling at some cyclists on the highway next to Chumash.
 * Flying a Cuban 800 above the desert.

Post - Paleto Score Setup

 * Standing in his meth lab.

Post - Hang Ten

 * Wildly running through the Vanilla Unicorn.

Unique Post-Mission Scenes
These unique Switch Scene will occur only if the player switches to Trevor right after or soon after completing a mission. In some cases with Trevor, the player will be automatically switched over to him after completing a mission.


 * After Fame or Shame - Driving the Phantom saying "I'm back, motherfuckers!".
 * After Three's Company - Flying back to his airfield in the FIB's Frogger, saying "The FIB, Townley? Why that doesn't surprise me?".
 * After Hood Safari - Hiding behind a wall in Elysian Island evading a cop car looking for him. He will then say "The life of a gangbanger". (Only seen if completed as Franklin without bringing Trevor home.)
 * After I Fought The Law - Walking and saying "Stay spiritual! I hope he believes in afterlife".
 * After Eye in the Sky - Pushing the LSPD co-pilot out of the helicopter and taking it. Originally, he made it at the scene, instead of out of the scene.
 * After Surveying the Score - Next to his helicopter in Sandy Shores Airfield, saying "Huh! Crazy!" (only seen if completed as Michael).
 * After Pack Man - Talking on the phone with Lester about how Devin Weston refused to pay for his services, Lester will also ask Trevor to meet Franklin in his aunt's house to talk about Michael disappearance.
 * After Reuniting the Family - Waking up drunk and in underwear on an island east of Palomino Highlands with dead Lost MC members strewn everywhere. He then will say one of the following; “Last one standing... again”, "The morning after the night before." or "Wasn't me!"
 * After The Wrap Up - Walking and saying "Michael, Michael, Michael. What would you do without me?".
 * After Lamar Down - Driving back to Los Santos singing “If you go out in the woods today, prepare for a big surprise...”
 * After The Big Score - In Sandy Shores Airfield saying "Michael... Merryweather... They are all against me".
 * After The Third Way driving in Sandy Shores near his trailer.
 * After Mrs. Philips - Smoking crystal meth in his trailer and lamenting over his mother.

Passed Out Drunk
A recurring motif with Trevor is that he might be passed out drunk in a random location around the map. He will slouch over and wake himself up while looking around startled. He will smash the beer bottle he is holding and make a comment regarding his situation.


 * On top of Mount Gordo wearing a dress. He will either comment on how he will eat the liver of the deer that pissed on him, or that his penis feels like an ice pop and will joke about an ice cock pop.
 * Lying in a drunken daze on the railroad tracks east of Paleto Bay with a train fast approaching. The player gains control of him with just enough time to get out of the train's way. He may say "What have you done now, Trevor?", or will drunkenly shout at the train "Fuck off! I'm sleeping here!"
 * On the beaches of Chumash. When he wakes up, he may comment on how no one bothered to put sunscreen on him, or he might comment on the rather large woman that is scripted to walk by him.
 * In a barn in Grapeseed. He may comment on how there were 6 cowboys in the barn a minute ago, or that the party has ended. He may also say "Who's my moo cow?" to the cow scripted to walk away from him.
 * In only his underwear in the Lake Vinewood Estates. He might comment on how itchy he is, how the party is over, or how he needs some breakfast.
 * Outside the Vanilla Unicorn. He may comment on where Wade is, or how he is practically at work (only after Hang Ten).
 * At a juice stand near the Vinewood Sign. He might comment on why crystal meth turns him into an outdoorsman.
 * On the roof of a building in Textile City. He may comment on how one should not trust prostitutes to keep you through the night or he might say “High ground. Good thinking, T”. He might also say “A pigeon fancier I am not.”
 * Inside the empty pool of the abandoned motel at Sandy Shores.
 * In a cemetery in Pacific Bluffs, dressed in a suit.

Trivia

 * If the player kills another protagonist and switches to them, the protagonist will instantly spawn at a nearby hospital, even though it usually takes a few hours to be revived.
 * In Trevor's Gameplay Trailer, one of his switch scenes shows him cursing all the time saying "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! Awgh!", panicking and making a mess in his toilet, just to flush a foot. The scene still exists, however, Trevor does not curse and he doesn't make any mess, instead, he forces it in with his foot and flushing it, usually saying "Bye bye foot." or "Flush for fuck's sake!".
 * If the player switches to Trevor and he is wearing a dress, a very humorous bug will occur where he will lack underwear and his genitals are fully visible if the player positions the camera properly, or takes cover next to a waist-high object. This only happens during the switch scenes, as if the player puts a dress on him from Trevor's wardrobe, he will be wearing underwear.
 * If the player steals any vehicle using one Protagonist, switches to another and then back to that previous Protagonist, that vehicle will replace his default vehicle during a Switch Scene, whether if it is parked nearby or if that protagonist is driving his vehicle. For example, the player, as Trevor steals any random vehicle, switches to Michael and/or Franklin and then back to Trevor, his default Bodhi will be replaced by any vehicle that he has stolen. This is much more possible if the protagonist that the player has switched to Saves the game in their respective safehouses or at least sleeps in their bed and does not get Wasted or Busted, in which switching back to that previous protagonist respawns his default vehicle. In most instances, that stolen vehicle, if damaged will be instantly repaired upon switching characters.
 * If the player was to steal a Semi-Truck with either a Trailer attached to it or attached a trailer if it is without one and switches characters and then back to that character used to steal a truck, that Semi-Truck spawns without its trailer attached despite the fact that the trailer is still intact upon switching characters.
 * It is, however, impossible to spawn a Prison Bus that has been stolen from Bolingbroke Penitentiary during switch scenes, as the character that hijacked it is taken instantly outside a hospital. It is suggested that the protagonist who stole the prison bus may have been Wasted off-screen, especially if the player switches characters immediately after successfully stealing one.
 * The same may happen if the player steals a plane. Especially if flying low around a bunch of buildings, if you switch to another character, you can hear the plane explode in the distance before it even switches to the character. The character that stole the plane will be outside of the hospital when the player switches back to him.