Gaming
The Legend of Zelda Drops a Bomb on November’s Grand Theft Auto 6 Traffic
Nintendo finally pulled back the curtain on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, and the internet promptly lost its collective mind. The…
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Grand Theft Auto
Grand Theft Auto news and guides, Rockstar Games' open-world crime franchise.
About Grand Theft Auto
Grand Theft Auto is Rockstar Games' long-running open-world action franchise, known for its satirical take on American crime culture, sprawling open cities, and freedom to explore far beyond each game's main storyline. Since its 1997 debut, the series has become one of the best-selling and most culturally influential video game franchises ever made.
Grand Theft Auto V, released in 2013, became one of the best-selling entertainment products of all time across any medium, powered in large part by its ongoing online multiplayer mode, GTA Online, which Rockstar has continued updating for over a decade.
History
1997–2001
Top-down era
The original Grand Theft Auto games use a top-down perspective before the series shifts to full 3D with Grand Theft Auto III.
2001–2008
3D era
Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, San Andreas, and IV define the modern open-world crime genre.
2013–present
GTA V & Online era
Grand Theft Auto V and its online mode become a sustained, years-long commercial phenomenon ahead of the series' next mainline entry.
Key People
Sam Houser
Co-founder of Rockstar Games and longtime creative force behind the GTA series
Dan Houser
Former Rockstar writer, co-wrote several mainline GTA entries before departing in 2020
Rockstar North
Edinburgh-based studio primarily responsible for developing the mainline GTA titles
Key Grand Theft Auto Releases
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto III | 2001 | Shifted the series into full 3D open-world gameplay |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 2004 | Widely praised for its scale and ambition |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 2013 | One of the best-selling entertainment products of all time |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | TBA | Rockstar's next mainline entry, among the most anticipated games in development |
Financials
How It Compares
| Compared To | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Saints Row | Saints Row emerged as a more openly comedic, over-the-top take on the open-world crime genre GTA popularized, trading GTA's satire for outright absurdity. |
| Red Dead Redemption | Both are Rockstar open-world franchises, but Red Dead trades GTA's modern urban crime setting for the American frontier. |
Trivia & Fan Culture
Started as a top-down shooter
The original 1997 Grand Theft Auto used a top-down perspective; the series didn't adopt its now-signature 3D open-world format until Grand Theft Auto III in 2001.
GTA V's record-setting launch
Grand Theft Auto V set multiple entertainment-industry records for revenue generated in its opening days upon release in 2013.
GTA Online's long tail
Grand Theft Auto Online, the multiplayer mode bundled with GTA V, has remained a major ongoing revenue driver for Take-Two for more than a decade after the base game's release.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GTA Online a separate game from GTA V?
GTA Online is an online multiplayer mode included with and built around Grand Theft Auto V, continuously updated by Rockstar since 2013 rather than sold as a standalone game.
Who develops Grand Theft Auto?
Rockstar Games develops the series, primarily through its Rockstar North studio, with support from other studios within the wider Rockstar Games group.
Who develops Grand Theft Auto?
Rockstar Games develops the series, primarily through its Rockstar North studio in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Is Grand Theft Auto VI confirmed?
Yes, Rockstar Games has officially announced Grand Theft Auto VI, with marketing and trailers released ahead of its anticipated launch.
Latest Coverage
Latest
Gaming News
GTA 4 Steals Crown for Best Story Ever Told in Grand Theft Auto Series
Grand Theft Auto has always been a franchise that sparks endless debates about which game has the best story, and the latest voice to…
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Rumors & Leaks
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Gaming News
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Gaming
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Grand Theft Auto has always been a franchise that sparks endless debates about which game has the best story, and the latest voice to…
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Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick just threw out a comment about Grand Theft Auto that has fans buzzing, and it involves people calling in sick…
Gaming News
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Grand Theft Auto fans have spent years waiting for the next instalment in the blockbuster series, and alongside the anticipation of finally exploring the…
Gaming News
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One of the most influential franchises in gaming history is “Grand Theft Auto.” The series’ cultural footprint is massive, shaping not just games but…
Gaming News
Rockstar’s Fear of a Foreign Fiasco Kept Grand Theft Auto Games From Leaving America
According to a former Rockstar North technical director, “Grand Theft Auto” could have become a globetrotting franchise. Obbe spoke in a recent interview, where…
Entertainment
Grand Theft Auto 6 Navigates the Cliff Edge of Fan Goodwill
As “Grand Theft Auto 6” stands as one of the most anticipated releases in gaming history, a former Rockstar developer warns that the studio…
Entertainment
The Henchman May Become the Grand Theft Auto Game Rockstar Wished It Made
Get ready for top-down chaos. The Henchmen offers a vast open world, brutal combat, and a rise-to-power story across two eras, sharing elements found…
Gaming News
Grand Theft Auto 6 Hype Gets Novel Response from GTA 5 Actor, Literally
Steven Ogg, the actor who portrayed Trevor Philips in Grand Theft Auto 5, doesn't seem too excited for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6.
Gaming News
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University of Tennessee students can take a Grand Theft Auto history class. The class is titled Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980 through…
Gaming News
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Some Grand Theft Auto 6 fans have become convinced that Raul Bautista is the game's secret third protagonist.
Gaming News
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Reviews
Reviews
GTA 6 Might Cost $100—And Fans Are Still Ready to Buy
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Reviews
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Guides
Guides
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Guides
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