History Videogame / GrandTheftAuto

After '''a decade''' of silence, with Rockstar almost exclusively focusing on ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoOnline''; December 4, 2023, marked the beginning of a new era for GTA—the day they finally greenlit the highly anticipated ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoVI'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdBZY2fkU-0 trailer 1]] after announcing it on November 8, 2023. Set in the fictional state of Leonida (parodying Florida) in TheNew20s, the story will revolve around a pair of thieves, Jason and Lucía, [[OutlawCouple in a Bonnie and Clyde style]]. This installment is expected to be one of the '''most''' ambitious videogames of the decade.

After '''a decade''' of silence, with Rockstar almost exclusively focusing on ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoOnline''; December 4, 2023, marked the beginning of a new era for GTA—the day they finally greenlit the highly anticipated ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoVI'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdBZY2fkU-0 trailer 1]] after announcing it on November 8, 2023. Set in the fictional state of Leonida (parodying Florida) and featuring the return of ViceCity in TheNew20s, the story will revolve around a pair of thieves, Jason and Lucía, [[OutlawCouple in a Bonnie and Clyde style]]. This installment is expected to be one of the '''most''' ambitious videogames of the decade.

After eight years of silence, with Rockstar focusing almost exclusively on ''GTA Online''; October 8, 2021 marks the day that Rockstar finally gave the greenlight to ''Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition'', a {{remaster}}ed compilation of the [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIII first]] [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity three]] [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas games]] of the 3D era, complete with graphical enhancements via Unreal Engine 4 and gameplay improvements similar to those found in ''Grand Theft Auto V''. It was released on November 11, 2021 for the PC, [=PS4=], Xbox One, and Switch, with a mobile version expected in 2022. To say that reactions to this "Definitive Edition" before and after release has been polarizing would be a massive understatement...

Four months after the release of the controversial remaster, and after a high-profile ContentLeak confirming that it was in production, Rockstar announced the development of the next ''Grand Theft Auto'' game is "well underway". On November 8, 2023, they [[https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/4kok877a13aa32/a-message-from-rockstar-games formally announced]] ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoVI'', with the first trailer debuting on December 4 (moved up from December 5 after ''another'' leak).

Four months after the release of the controversial remaster, and after a high-profile ContentLeak confirming that it was in production, Rockstar announced the development of the next ''Grand Theft Auto'' game is "well underway". On November 8, 2023, they [[https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/4kok877a13aa32/a-message-from-rockstar-games formally announced it]], with a trailer coming on December 5.

* ''Grand Theft Auto VI'' (2025)

* ''Untitled Grand Theft Auto Entry'' (TBA)

Four months after the release of the controversial remaster, and after a high-profile ContentLeak confirming that it was in production, Rockstar announced the development of the next ''Grand Theft Auto'' game is "well underway". On November 8, 2023, they [[https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/4kok877a13aa32/a-message-from-rockstar-games formally announced it]], with a trailer coming in early December.

* {{Feelies}}: The "tourist" maps. These were rendered somewhat obsolete in ''[=GTA3=]'', though the psx titles were borderline impossible without them. Even if one stuck to the general rules (remember the names of neighborhoods, use highways for fast travel), the destination markers would intentionally mislead you.

''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' was released on 17 September 2013, amassing over a billion dollars in sales over three days, over '''6 billion dollars''' by 2019, and became the fastest selling entertainment blockbuster in history. Taking criticism of ''GTA IV''[='=]s downer tone to heart, ''Grand Theft Auto V'' follows the story of three new villain protagonists fighting to better themselves in a cynical, morally bankrupt world in and around the city of Los Santos. In addition to many new activities and gameplay refinements, such as the ability to switch to other player characters instantly, the new ''Grand Theft Auto Online'' boasts an ever-expanding compliment of up to a thousand missions and other diversions.

After four months after the release of the controversial remaster, and after a high-profile ContentLeak confirming that it was in production, Rockstar announced the development of the next ''Grand Theft Auto'' game is "well underway". On November 8, 2023, they [[https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/4kok877a13aa32/a-message-from-rockstar-games formally announced it,]] with a trailer coming in early December.

After fourth months of the release of the controversial remaster, Rockstar announced the development of the next ''Grand Theft Auto'' game is "well underway".

The game's success paved the way for a series of games which [[MissionPackSequel blurred the line between expansion pack and sequel]]. DMA, now wholly incorporated into Rockstar as "Rockstar North", came up with two more titles. ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity'' moved the action to a cheery mockery of [[TheEighties '80s]] UsefulNotes/{{Miami}}, introduced motorcycles, was the first entry where the lead character spoke (with the voice of Creator/RayLiotta, no less), and the first to have a soundtrack fully composed of licensed music. After that came ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'', set in [[TheNineties early '90s]] UsefulNotes/{{California}} with a flavor that was less ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}'' and more ''Film/BoyzNTheHood''. It allowed the player jet aircraft and more than enough airspace to get the use out of them, as well as three cities (expies of UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco, and UsefulNotes/LasVegas) with [[SceneryPorn vast, open countryside]] in between. It also cast [[Creator/SamuelLJackson Samuel L. Muthafukkin Jackson]] as the BigBad. Meanwhile, Rockstar's other studios crafted ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoLibertyCityStories'' (a prequel to ''[=GTA3=]'') and ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCityStories Vice City Stories]]'' (a prequel to ''Vice City'') for the [=PlayStation=] Portable, and ''Grand Theft Auto Advance'' (another ''[=GTA3=]'' prequel in the original overhead style) for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance.

The game's success paved the way for a series of games which [[MissionPackSequel blurred the line between expansion pack and sequel]]. DMA, now wholly incorporated into Rockstar as "Rockstar North", came up with two more titles. ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity'' moved the action to a cheery mockery of [[TheEighties '80s]] UsefulNotes/{{Miami}}, introduced motorcycles, was the first entry where the lead character spoke (with the voice of Ray Liotta, no less), and the first to have a soundtrack fully composed of licensed music. After that came ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'', set in [[TheNineties early '90s]] UsefulNotes/{{California}} with a flavor that was less ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}'' and more ''Film/BoyzNTheHood''. It allowed the player jet aircraft and more than enough airspace to get the use out of them, as well as three cities (expies of UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco, and UsefulNotes/LasVegas) with [[SceneryPorn vast, open countryside]] in between. It also cast [[Creator/SamuelLJackson Samuel L. Muthafukkin Jackson]] as the BigBad. Meanwhile, Rockstar's other studios crafted ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoLibertyCityStories'' (a prequel to ''[=GTA3=]'') and ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCityStories Vice City Stories]]'' (a prequel to ''Vice City'') for the [=PlayStation=] Portable, and ''Grand Theft Auto Advance'' (another ''[=GTA3=]'' prequel in the original overhead style) for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance.

Also, an actual ''story'' was implemented, about a thug who escapes from a prison van, and plots revenge against his traitorous partner in crime/ex-girlfriend while establishing himself in the underworld of [[BigApplesauce Liberty City]]. Voice actors were brought in for the first time[[note]]but ironically, [[TheVoiceless not for the main character]][[/note]] -- including respected Hollywood character actors like Robert Loggia, Creator/KyleMacLachlan, Michael Madsen, Debi Mazar, Creator/JoePantoliano, and Creator/MichaelRapaport. The number, variety, and complexity of the missions were raised. The radio stations started using licensed material (though most of the soundtrack was still made in-house) and send-ups of radio commercials and DJ chatter.

Not to be confused with the Creator/RonHoward movie of the same name.

* MadeOfExplodium: almost every vehicle in the [=GTA=] series can explode, usually either because of crashes or gunfire. This is more noticable in the 3D era[[note]][=GTA=] 3, Vice City, & San Andreas[[/note]] because any car that gets flipped upside-down will explode after a few seconds.

* MadeOfExplodium: More noticeable in some games than in others.

* LemmingCops: Oh, the irony of this particular trope appearing in these games considering [[VideoGame/{{Lemmings}} some of the developer's older titles]]...

* LawOfCartographicalElegance

* LimitedWardrobe

[[caption-width-right:300:To get by in the criminal underworld you'll always be dealing with these kinds of people.]]

* TheEighties: In ''Vice City'' and ''VCS''.

* TheNineties: The early '90s in ''San Andreas'', and the late '90s in ''LCS''.
* NinetiesAntiHero: If you don't consider any player character a VillainProtagonist.

** Averted in ''VideoGame/Fallout1'' and ''[[VideoGame/Fallout2 2]]'' (which use the same models) where "First Aid Kits" are white boxes with red trim and a clear red cross in the center.
** Played straight in ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' and ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' which have a black cross in the center of a white box for their First Aid Kits. ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' changes these to a ''green'' cross.

** CJ is warned not to exit Los Santos at the start of ''San Andreas'', or else Tenpenny makes good on his threat to pin a cop's murder on him. Realistically, this only results in a maximum wanted level and an unavoidable trip back to Los Santos. CJ is only allowed to leave when Tenpenny changes his mind, tosses a bag over CJ's head, and ''kicks him out'' of Los Santos. Las Venturas, however, is unreachable due to a hurricane warning which has shut down San Fierro's bridges.