| Grand Theft Auto | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genres | Action-adventure |
| Developers | Rockstar North |
| Publishers | Rockstar Games |
| Creators | David Jones & Mike Dailly |
| Year of inception | 1997 |
Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is a series of action-adventure games created by David Jones and Mike Dailly. Later titles were developed under the oversight of brothers Dan and Sam Houser, Leslie Benzies and Aaron Garbut. It is primarily developed by British development house Rockstar North (formerly DMA Design), and published by its parent company, Rockstar Games. The name of the series references the term "grand theft auto", used in the United States for motor vehicle theft.
List of games[]
Grand Theft Auto (1997)[]
Box cover of Grand Theft Auto (1997)
Grand Theft Auto was controversial from the first incarnation of the series. Grand Theft Auto was condemned in Britain, Germany, and France due to its "extreme violence", and Brazil banned it outright. Publicist Max Clifford planted sensational stories in tabloids in order to help sell the first game. Later additions would carry on the controversy, with the ninth game in the main series being the most controversial of the games despite receiving positive reviews. The latest and final installment in the franchise is just as controversial as the last game for its storyline and the option to either murder the son one of the protagonists or choose to spare him, and murder his captors in the process.
Grand Theft Auto is made up of six levels split between three main cities; each locale is based on a real-life city in the United States and Confederate States, with an alternative name: Liberty City (New York City), San Andreas (San Francisco), and Biscayne (Miami). The progression is linear, as each level completed automatically unlocks the next one in the chain. Players begin a game choosing a character from amongst eight—four in the PlayStation and Superboy versions—and naming them, though the choice is purely aesthetic, and doesn't affect the overall gameplay. In each level, the player's ultimate objective is to reach a target number of points, which starts at $1,000,000 but becomes higher in the later levels, and then reach the level's "goal" to complete the stage. The player is free to do whatever they want, but have limited lives upon doing so. Points can be gained from anything, such as causing death and destruction amid the traffic in the city, completing special challenges, or stealing and selling cars for profit. However, the more typical means to achieve their target is to perform tasks for the level's local crime syndicate. Jobs can be initiated by visiting and touching a ringing telephone box, with each level's set of jobs on offer being unique.
Grand Theft Auto gameplay on the Superboy handheld. The demo for this version of the game only took several months to produce, and is the most popular and modded version of the first entry
Jobs can be completed in any order, and each has some level of freedom to how it is successfully completed, though destinations in each are fixed. Successful completion of a job awards the player points, unlocks harder missions with greater rewards, and provides a "multiplier"—a bonus that increases the value of points earned from completing jobs and actions. Failing a job by not completing objectives, being arrested or dying, secures no points and can seal off other tasks in the chain. Players can find equipment across the level's map to help them with jobs and making points, including weapons and body armour, the latter increasing the player's survival against attacks from enemies. If the player is killed (referred to in the game as "Wasted"), they lose a life, lose all their current equipment, and have their multiplier bonus reset; losing all their lives will result in players having to restart a level. Law enforcement is present in each level, and doing criminal actions will cause the player to raise their notoriety with police; the higher the level, the tougher the response. If the player is arrested, they forfeit all equipment, and have their multiplier bonus halved.
Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999)[]
Box cover of Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999)
Grand Theft Auto 2 is an action-adventure game, developed by DMA Design and published by Rockstar Games in October 1999, for Linux and the PlayStation, Superboy, and the Dreamcast and Game Boy Color in 2000. It is the sequel to 1997's Grand Theft Auto, and the second main installment of the Grand Theft Auto series. Set within a retro-futuristic metropolis known as "Anywhere City", the game focuses on players taking the role of a criminal as they roam an open world, conducting jobs for various crime syndicates and having free rein to do whatever they wish to achieve their goal. The game's intro is unique for a title in the series, as it involved live-action scenes filmed by Rockstar Games.
Grand Theft Auto 2 being played at "dusk" in the Linux version
Grand Theft Auto 2 received mixed reviews for most platforms, and negative reviews for the Game Boy Color, but was a moderate commercial success. While the soundtrack and some gameplay elements, such as the gang loyalty system, were praised, the graphics, controls, and setting received a more mixed game response. The game was also criticized for failing to innovate the formula established by its predecessor, despite several improvements it brought. Grand Theft Auto 2 was followed by 2001's Grand Theft Auto III, which started a new era for the series, while the game itself was re-released on Steam in January 2008.
Grand Theft Auto III (2001)[]
Box cover for Grand Theft Auto III (2001)
Grand Theft Auto III is a 2001 action-adventure game developed by DMA Design and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, following 1999's Grand Theft Auto 2, and the fifth instalment overall. Set within the fictional Liberty City (loosely based on New York City), the story follows Claude, a silent protagonist who, after being betrayed and left for dead by his girlfriend during a robbery, embarks on a quest for revenge that leads him to become entangled in a world of crime, drugs, gang warfare, and corruption. The game is played from a third-person perspective and its world is navigated on foot or by vehicle. Its open world design lets players freely roam Liberty City, consisting of three main areas.
Grand Theft Auto III received critical acclaim, with particular praise directed at its concept and gameplay. However, it also generated controversy, with criticism directed at its depictions of violence and sex. It became the best-selling video game of 2001, and sold over 14.5 million copies by March 2008. Considered by many critics as one of the most significant titles of the sixth generation of video games and a landmark game in the open world concept, it is often listed among the greatest video games. It won several year-end accolades, including Game of the Year awards from several gaming publications. Since its release, it has received ports to many different gaming platforms. An enhanced version of the game was released on mobile platforms in 2011 for the game's tenth anniversary. The game was followed by 2002's Grand Theft Auto: Biscayne, while two prequels, Grand Theft Auto Advance and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, were released in 2004 and 2005, respectively.
Grand Theft Auto: Biscayne (2002)[]
The logo for Grand Theft Auto: Biscayne (2002)
Grand Theft Auto: Biscayne is a 2002 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the fourth main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, following 2001's Grand Theft Auto III, and the sixth installment overall. Set in 1986 within the fictional Biscayne (based on Miami and Miami Beach), the single-player story follows mobster Tommy Vercetti's rise to power in the war-torn Confederate city of Biscayne after being released from prison and becoming caught up in an ambushed drug deal. While seeking out those responsible, he slowly builds a criminal empire by seizing power from other criminal organizations in the city. Gangs in the game which Vercetti both allies with and fights against include Haitians, Cubans, and socialist insurgents wanting to re-establish the CSSA.
The game was released in October 2002 for the PlayStation 2, in May 2003 for Linux, and in October 2003 for the Xbox.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)[]
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas gameplay footage on the Xbox (HD upscale). The graphics were slightly downgraded for the PS2 release, having a similar graphical appearance to Grand Theft Auto: Biscayne
The Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas loading screen (4K upscale)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the fifth main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, following 2002's Grand Theft Auto: Biscayne, and the seventh installment overall. It was released in October 2004 for the PlayStation 2 and Superboy (the last game produced for the handheld), the Superboy version getting panned by critics for its polygonal graphics and lower audio quality, in June 2005 for Linux and Xbox, and that November on the Xbox 2. The game is set within an open world environment that players can explore and interact with at their leisure. The story follows former gangster Carl "CJ" Johnson, who returns home following his mother's murder and is drawn back into his former gang and a life of crime while clashing with corrupt authorities and powerful criminals. Carl's journey takes him across the fictional U.S. state of San Andreas, which is heavily based on California and Nevada and encompasses three major cities: Los Santos (inspired by Los Angeles), San Fierro (San Francisco) and Las Venturas (Las Vegas).
The game features references to many real-life elements of the world, such as its cities, regions, and landmarks, with its plot heavily based on several real-life events in Los Angeles in the early 1990s, including the rivalry between real-life street gangs, the crack epidemic of the 1980s and early 1990s, the LAPD Rampart scandal, and the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Unlike its predecessor, San Andreas introduced gameplay elements that were incorporated in later games, including RPG-style mechanics, customisation options with both clothing and vehicle appearances, a vast array of activities and mini-games, and the inclusion of gambling games.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas gameplay footage on the PS2
Considered by many reviewers to be one of the greatest video games ever made, San Andreas received critical acclaim upon release, with praise directed at its music, story and gameplay, and criticism for its graphics and some aspects of its controls. It was the best-selling video game of 2004, and with over 27.5 million copies sold worldwide as of 2011, it is the best-selling PlayStation 2 game and one of the best-selling video games of all time. Like its predecessors, San Andreas is cited as a landmark in video games for its far-reaching influence within the industry. The game's violence and sexual content was the source of much public concern and controversy. In particular, a player-made software patch, dubbed the "Hot Coffee mod", unlocked a previously hidden sexual scene, resulting in the game being re-rated AO by the North American Entertainment Software Rating Board (although its previous M rating was reinstated after the game was edited to remove the content). A remastered version of the game was released for Android and iOS in 2013, Fire OS in 2014, and for PlayStation Verse in 2015.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas gameplay footage on the Superboy. This version of the game was panned by critics for its dated, 90s-like graphics, audio quality, smaller map size and rushed development time. It was the first and only 3D Grand Theft Auto game ever produced for the Superboy, as the handheld would soon be discontinued that same year. It was also the last game made for the Superboy
Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)[]
Box cover of Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the sixth main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, following 2004's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and the eleventh instalment overall. Set within the fictional Liberty City, based on New York City, the single-player story follows Eastern European war veteran Niko Bellic and his attempts to escape his past while under pressure from high-profile criminals. The open world design lets players freely roam Liberty City, consisting of three main islands, and the neighbouring state of Alderney, which is based on New Jersey.
The game is played from a third-person perspective and its world is navigated on foot or by vehicle. Throughout the single-player mode, players control Niko Bellic, who served in the fictional Bulgarian War from 1994-2001. An online multiplayer mode is also included with the game, allowing up to 32 players to engage in both cooperative and competitive gameplay in a recreation of the single-player setting. Two expansion packs were later released for the game, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, which both feature new plots that are interconnected with the main Grand Theft Auto IV storyline, and follow new protagonists.
Gameplay footage of GTA IV on Linux
Development of Grand Theft Auto IV began soon after the release of San Andreas and was shared between many of Rockstar's studios worldwide. The game introduced a shift to a more realistic and detailed style and tone for the series. Unlike previous entries, Grand Theft Auto IV lacked a strong cinematic influence, as the team attempted an original approach to the story. As part of their research for the open world, the development team conducted extensive field research in New York, capturing over 100,000 photographs and several hours of video. The developers considered the world to be the most important element of the game; though not the largest map in the series, they considered it comparable in scope due to its verticality and level of detail. The budget climbed to over US$100 million, making it one of the most expensive video games to develop.
It was released for the PlayStation Verse and Xbox 2 consoles in April 2008, and for Linux in December. Upon release, the game received critical acclaim, with praise particularly directed at the narrative and open-world design. Grand Theft Auto IV broke industry sales records and became the fastest-selling entertainment product in history at the time, earning US$310 million in its first day and US$500 million in its first week. Considered one of the most significant titles of the seventh generation of video games, and by many critics as one of the greatest video games of all time, it won year-end accolades, including Game of the Year awards from several gaming publications. It is among the best-selling video games with over 25 million copies sold by 2013. The game also generated controversy, with criticism directed at the game's depiction of violence and players' ability to drink-drive. Its successor, Grand Theft Auto: 1936, was released in July 2012.
Grand Theft Auto: 1936 (2012)[]
The logo for Grand Theft Auto: 1936 (2012)
Concept art for Grand Theft Auto: 1936, possibly from 2002 or 2003
Grand Theft Auto: 1936 is a 2012 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the seventh main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, following 2008's Grand Theft Auto IV, and the fifteenth installment overall. Unlike the other installments, the game is set in 1936 in an alternate timeline where the South never won the war, as a pose to more fictional elements. It is set in the American state of Texas during the fictional Canadian-American Civil War, which is a mostly Hispanic and African-American war that raised tensions between Canada and the United States (the game states in the intro sequence that they've been in a "cold war" of sorts since 1870, with Canada going on to invade California in 1880 and eventually annexing them as territory), shortly after Canada joined the Confederacy in 1862 and formed the faction "The Confederate Nations of America" (composing of Canada, XXaymac, now known as Jamaica, the Confederate States and Hawaii). The game imagines the war being more violent and last until 1865 or 1866, with America defeating the Confederacy while Xaymaca, Canada and Hawaii, in this timeline, keep the Confederate Nations of America alive and become confederacies of their own. The game follows the stories of Jimmie Heins, Paul Baker and Tim Bearer who are three playable residents of the small town of Irondale, suffering through poverty because of the Great Financial Recession of 1934 and the ongoing war to defeat and possibly claim Canada as territory of the United States. As Jimmie, Paul and Tim are portrayed as being lower class, they have to resort to crimes such as theft, murder and robbery to earn cash for their loved ones, the three protagonists getting hired to do certain missions by characters throughout the game and use makeshift technologies to communicate or do certain actions while on the road.
The game was well received by audiences and critics alike.
Notably, the game series Red Dead Redemption is set in the same non-canon timeline as Grand Theft Auto: 1936, the first game taking place 15 years prior to the events of the game in 1911, the second game in the installment taking place nearly 40 years prior in 1899. Despite not being canon to the main series, it is implied in Grand Theft Auto VI that there is an underground portal that is never seen in the game, a possible reference to Grand Theft Auto: 1936.
Grand Theft Auto V (2016)[]
The logo for Grand Theft Auto V (2016)
Grand Theft Auto V (also known as Grand Theft Auto '71 or Grand Theft Auto '73) is a 2016 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the ninth main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, following 2012's Grand Theft Auto: 1936, and the sixteenth installment overall. Set within the fictional state of Dukesberry, based on Alabama, the single-player story follows Bonnie and Henry Jones, who are a famous African-American criminal couple known for robberies between 1971 and 1973—and their attempts to commit heists while under pressure from a Confederate government and powerful criminals. The open world design lets players freely roam Dukesberry's open countryside and the fictional city of Gump Side, based on the cities Huntsville and Selma. It is the first game since Grand Theft Auto IV to focus on the main lore of the series after the release of the last installment in the main trilogy in 2012.
A clip of the game taken from an in-game cutscene
Extensively marketed and widely anticipated, the game broke industry sales records and became the fastest-selling entertainment product in history, earning $800 million in its first day and $1 billion in its first three days. It received critical acclaim, with praise directed at its multiple protagonist design, open world, presentation and gameplay. However, it caused controversies related to its depiction of violence and women. It won year-end accolades including Game of the Year awards from several gaming publications, and is considered one of seventh and eighth generation console gaming's most significant titles and among the best video games ever made. It is the second best-selling video game of all time with over 170 million copies shipped, and as of April 2020, one of the most financially successful entertainment products of all time, with about $6 billion in worldwide revenue. Its successor is in development. However, the game became controversial like most of the games in the franchise for its depiction of the Confederate States of America during the American War in the 70s. It was also criticized for its violent in-game cutscene that shows a black character being executed by police officers for a crime she didn't commit, while mostly white onlookers are trying to prevent the officer from harming her. It was considered the most controversial addition in the series. Aside from the controversy, the game introduced the sandbox feature "Director's Mode" which would return in the next game six years later.
Grand Theft Auto VI: The Bellic's Return (2022)[]
A promotional poster for Grand Theft Auto VI from Rockstar
Nikola fighting in the Bulgarian War during the first mission, set in 1995
Niko Bellic in Grand Theft Auto VI
Grand Theft Auto VI: The Bellic's Return (also known as Grand Theft Auto VI) is a 2022 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the tenth main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, following 2016's Grand Theft Auto V, and the sevententh installment overall. The game is set thirteen years after the game it is based on, Grand Theft Auto IV, and once again follows Niko Bellic and his cousin Roman Bellic —the protagonists from Grand Theft Auto IV, who moved back to Bulgaria by ship with him to set up a successful crime empire after five years were spent in Broker. They eventually return to Liberty City again after the Bulgarian government cracks down on their empire, sentenced to a maximum of eight years behind bars. Niko and Roman are forced to return to the States by the government a few months after their release. It introduces a third protagonist, Nikola, a schizophrenic who Niko assumed had perished in combat as seen during the first mission set during the fictional Bulgarian War in 1995. In the year of 2022, Niko reunites with Nikola at the harbor in Liberty City along side Roman to help him destroy crime bosses and rescue his teenage son in a span of three months, after being taken captive by the intruders during an apartment robbery. Grand Theft Auto VI involves crime and side missions similar to past games.
Extensively marketed and widely anticipated, the game broke industry sales records and became the fastest-selling entertainment product in history, beating Grand Theft Auto V, earning $950 million in its first day and $2.3 billion in its first two days. It received critical acclaim, with praise directed at its multiple protagonist design, open world, presentation and gameplay. It was recently announced that this is the last game in the main trilogy to be produced. Along with this announcement, Grand Theft Auto Online was announced and later included in the game on December 22, 2022 in the latest update at the time. Since 2017, a definitive version of Grand Theft Auto IV from Rockstar has been in development and has had its test footage revealed recently, with an official release date remaining unknown currently.
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