The Complete History of Grand Theft Auto: From 1997 to GTA 6

# The Complete History of Grand Theft Auto Grand Theft Auto began as a humble top-down action game developed by DMA Design (now Rockstar North) and published by BMG Interactive in 1997. Nobody could have predicted it would become the highest-grossing entertainment franchise in history. ## Grand Theft Auto (1997) The original GTA put players in a top-down, open city where they could commit crimes, steal cars, and work for criminal syndicates. The controversial nature of the game — which initially got it banned in several countries — became its greatest marketing asset. Three cities (Liberty City, Vice City, San Andreas) were playable, establishing the franchise's iconic fictional geography. ## GTA 2 (1999) GTA 2 iterated on the formula with a futuristic setting, gang reputation systems, and improved mission design. While commercially successful, it didn't match the impact of the original. ## GTA III (2001) — The Revolution Grand Theft Auto III changed video games forever. The shift to a fully 3D open world, voiced characters, and a cinematic narrative set in a reimagined Liberty City was unprecedented. It became the best-selling game of 2001 and fundamentally redefined what was possible in an open-world game. Claude Speed, Michael Madsen as a mob boss — GTA III had genuine Hollywood energy. ## Vice City (2002) — The Neon Masterpiece Set in a Miami-inspired Vice City in the 1980s, GTA: Vice City is considered by many fans to be the franchise's creative peak. Players controlled Tommy Vercetti (voiced by Ray Liotta) in a sun-soaked world of neon, cocaine, and classic rock. It sold 17.5 million copies and cemented GTA's place in pop culture. ## San Andreas (2004) — The Biggest World Yet GTA: San Andreas expanded the scale dramatically. Players controlled Carl "CJ" Johnson across three cities (Los Santos, San Fierro, Las Venturas) representing Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. Its story explored gang culture, corruption, and family loyalty — and the RPG mechanics (eating, working out, customizing CJ's appearance) gave it incredible depth. ## GTA IV (2008) — The Dark Chapter GTA IV was a bold tonal shift. Niko Bellic, a Serbian war veteran immigrating to Liberty City in search of the American Dream, became one of gaming's most complex protagonists. The game's dense, photorealistic world and mature storytelling earned universal critical acclaim (10/10 from many major outlets). However, some fans found it too serious compared to the anarchy of San Andreas. ## GTA V (2013) — The Monster Grand Theft Auto V launched in 2013 and became the fastest entertainment product to reach $1 billion in sales (3 days). Three playable protagonists (Michael, Trevor, Franklin), a massive Los Santos map, and the GTA Online multiplayer mode made it a phenomenon. It has sold over 200 million copies across multiple console generations and is still actively updated in 2026. ## GTA 6 (2025) — The Next Era Grand Theft Auto VI returns to Vice City and introduces the franchise's first female protagonist, Lucia, alongside her partner Jason. It promises the most detailed, dynamic open world Rockstar has ever built.