GTA Vice City began life as a GTA 3 expansion, Rockstar reveals

Despite there being a long list of titles in the GTA franchise,Grand Theft Auto: Vice Cityis considered as one of the best. However, it may surprise you to learn that it originally began life as aGrand Theft Auto IIIexpansion, according to Rockstar.As the fourth instalment in theGrand Theft Autofranchise,Grand Theft Auto: Vice Cityburst onto our screens in 2002 and has remained one of the best gaming experiences of all time. Telling the story of Tommy Vercetti’s rise to power, it featured both a character and setting that has been hard to beat despite the franchise continuing to this day with the upcoming release ofGTA VI.Check out a remastered Vice City in thisGTA: Vice Citygraphics mod!AdvertHowever, according to formerRockstarNorth technical director Obbe Vermeij (courtesy of Insider Gaming),GTA: Vice Citywas originally planned to be an expansion forGTA IIIbefore it grew in size. Ultimately, it was too good to just be a DLC.“It was Rockstar New York’s idea to set the game in the 80s in Miami,”wroteVermeij on his blog. “Originally it was supposed to be a mission pack toGTA III. Only onceGTA IIIdid as well as it did andVice Citystarted to look sufficiently different fromGTA IIIwas the decision made to make it a standalone game.“According to Vermeij, this decision was made around six months intoVice City’sdevelopment which is quite a short amount of time to realise the title’s impact. However, with the game quickly becoming 2002’s best-selling game and one that is still talked about to this day, it seems Rockstar definitely made the right choice.WithGrand Theft Auto VIset to return players to the much-loved Vice City, fans are excited to see some popular landmarks and scenery that they first experienced over 20-years ago.AdvertIn related news, thelong-awaitedGrand Theft Auto VItrailer is set to drop in December.Featured Image Credit: Rockstar GamesTopics:Grand Theft Auto,Rockstar Games

As the fourth instalment in theGrand Theft Autofranchise,Grand Theft Auto: Vice Cityburst onto our screens in 2002 and has remained one of the best gaming experiences of all time. Telling the story of Tommy Vercetti’s rise to power, it featured both a character and setting that has been hard to beat despite the franchise continuing to this day with the upcoming release ofGTA VI.

Check out a remastered Vice City in thisGTA: Vice Citygraphics mod!

Advert

However, according to formerRockstarNorth technical director Obbe Vermeij (courtesy of Insider Gaming),GTA: Vice Citywas originally planned to be an expansion forGTA IIIbefore it grew in size. Ultimately, it was too good to just be a DLC.

“It was Rockstar New York’s idea to set the game in the 80s in Miami,”wroteVermeij on his blog. “Originally it was supposed to be a mission pack toGTA III. Only onceGTA IIIdid as well as it did andVice Citystarted to look sufficiently different fromGTA IIIwas the decision made to make it a standalone game.”

According to Vermeij, this decision was made around six months intoVice City’sdevelopment which is quite a short amount of time to realise the title’s impact. However, with the game quickly becoming 2002’s best-selling game and one that is still talked about to this day, it seems Rockstar definitely made the right choice.

WithGrand Theft Auto VIset to return players to the much-loved Vice City, fans are excited to see some popular landmarks and scenery that they first experienced over 20-years ago.

Advert

In related news, thelong-awaitedGrand Theft Auto VItrailer is set to drop in December.

Topics:Grand Theft Auto,Rockstar Games