Skip to content
GTA 6 Everything

Grand Theft Auto III

The jump to 3D that defined the open-world genre: a silent protagonist double-crossed in a dark, rain-soaked Liberty City.

Key facts

Released
22 October 2001 (PlayStation 2, North America)
Type
Main series
Platforms
PlayStation 2 (2001), PC (2002), Xbox (2003), iOS and Android (2011), The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition (2021)
Developer
DMA Design (later Rockstar North)
Setting
Liberty City (New York City)
Story year
2001
Protagonist
Claude
Metascore
97 (PlayStation 2)
Sales
14.5 million units sold as of March 2008 (Take-Two).

What it is remembered for

  • The first 3D Grand Theft Auto and the first on PlayStation 2.
  • Delayed by about two weeks after the September 11 attacks so Rockstar could change some references.
  • Hid 100 packages around Liberty City for players to find.
  • Its 2011 mobile edition was Take-Two’s first Android game.

GTA 3 vs GTA 6

GTA 3 compared with GTA 6
GTA 3GTA 6
Released2001November 19, 2026
SettingLiberty CityVice City and the state of Leonida
Playable leadsClaudeJason Duval, Lucia Caminos
Launch platformsPlayStation 2 (2001)PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

GTA 3 FAQ

When did GTA 3 come out?

Grand Theft Auto III came out on 22 October 2001 (PlayStation 2, North America).

Where is GTA 3 set?

In Liberty City, the series’ take on New York City, in 2001.

Who is the main character in GTA 3?

Claude.

What platforms is GTA 3 on?

PlayStation 2 (2001); PC (2002); Xbox (2003); iOS and Android (2011); The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition (2021).

Sources and verification