The legacy that Rockstar Games has built with the Grand Theft Auto series continues to grow in 2026. The upcoming release of GTA 6 has many gamers excited to pick up the newest entry of the series on release day. But another major addition of the franchise celebrates its 25th anniversary in October 2026, marking a big turning point for modern video games.
In October of 2001, Grand Theft Auto III was released for the PlayStation 2. This was the third entry of the GTA series, but it was also the first to make the jump to full 3D visuals and gameplay. Unlike its predecessors on the original PlayStation console, the change in visual style allowed Grand Theft Auto III to portray a world that was even more mature and cinematic.
The game takes place in the fictional world of Liberty City, a satirical take on New York City. The streets are filled with people from all types of different groups, involved in everything from petty crime to full-blown corruption. Players control a silent protagonist, named Claude, and are thrust into the criminal underworld while seeking revenge against a former ally.
Exploring the streets of Liberty City in full 3D, undertaking missions for cash, and engaging with tons of side activities would become very influential. An entire genre of open-world 3D games would draw heavy inspiration from Grand Theft Auto III. Some gaming franchises would copy elements of its open-world design due to how popular it was at the time.
The commercial success of Grand Theft Auto III was monumental, with millions of units being sold, and high scores from critics. However, like the rest of the series, controversy followed the game due to its mature content. Multiple politicians and pundits often pointed to Rockstar Games to be held responsible for exposing children to violent media, as well as sexual activities. But despite the constant controversies, Grand Theft Auto III still had a massive following of supporters.
25 years later, gamers still look fondly back on playing Grand Theft Auto III on their PlayStation 2. The series would continue on the console, including multiple spin-off titles that became successes in their own right. Today, the series moves forward with the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is set to come out for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19, 2026.
