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Grand Theft Auto III
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Grand Theft Auto III
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Official Trailer
Grand Theft Auto III is the game that invented the modern open-world genre. Released in 2001, GTA 3 transformed the franchise from a top-down 2D game into a fully 3D open-world experience set in Liberty City.
Players control Claude, a silent protagonist who is betrayed by his girlfriend Catalina during a bank heist and left for dead, then works his way through Liberty City's criminal underworld for revenge. GTA III's three-island structure (Portland, Staunton Island, Shoreside Vale) became the blueprint for every open-world game that followed.
What Changed in the GTA III Definitive Edition?
The Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy. Definitive Edition (2021) includes a remastered GTA III with rebuilt character models, new lighting and weather effects, improved controls (weapon wheel, updated aiming), and a GPS-style minimap. The core gameplay and missions remain unchanged. Available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The original cheat codes are fully compatible with the Definitive Edition. PC players type their codes instead of pressing buttons: the GTA III Cheat Codes for PC cover every command.
Why GTA III Still Matters
GTA III sold over 14 million copies, and holds a Metacritic score of 97 on PlayStation 2 and 93 on PC. It took the series from a top-down view to a 3D city you could explore freely, and it is the first game of what fans call the 3D era, followed by Vice City in 2002 and San Andreas in 2004. Liberty City in GTA III introduced radio stations with licensed music, NPC routines, dynamic police chases, and the freedom to approach missions however you want.
GTA 3 Cheat Codes for PS2, PS4, PS5, Xbox & PC
GTA III cheat codes are entered as button combinations on console or typed text on PC. Popular cheats include the tank spawn (press Circle x6, R1, L2, L1, Triangle, Circle, Triangle on PS), all weapons, full health & armor, and the chaos mode pedestrians cheat. On PC, cheats are typed during gameplay. For example, type GUNSGUNSGUNS for all weapons. The Definitive Edition remaster (PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch) uses the same cheat inputs as the original. Our full guide covers every GTA 3 cheat code across all platforms, including the complete list of GTA III Cheat Codes for Xbox. To pick a platform yourself, start from the GTA III Cheat Codes: Complete List.
When Did GTA 3 Come Out?
GTA III came out in October 2001 on PlayStation 2, on the 22nd or 23rd in North America depending on the record. The PC version followed in May 2002 and the Xbox version at the end of 2003. Every release since, platform by platform:
| Platform | Release | Note |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 2 | 22 October 2001 | North America. |
| PC | 20 May 2002 | |
| Xbox | 31 October 2003 | North America. |
| iOS and Android | 15 December 2011 | For the game's tenth anniversary. |
| PlayStation 4 | 6 December 2015 | The original PS2 version. |
| PlayStation 5 | 19 November 2020 | The original version. |
| The Definitive Edition | 11 November 2021 | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, Switch and PC; mobile on 14 December 2023. |
Is GTA 3 the Same as GTA San Andreas?
No. They are two different games that are often confused. GTA III, from 2001, follows Claude in Liberty City. GTA San Andreas, released on 26 October 2004, follows Carl Johnson across a whole state and is the seventh game in the series. San Andreas is the third game of the 3D era that GTA III started, with Vice City in between. There is no game called GTA San Andreas 3.
Where Does GTA 3 Take Place?
In Liberty City, in 2001. Rockstar redesigned the city from the first Grand Theft Auto and based it loosely on New York City. It is split into three islands: Portland, Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale. The same city returns in GTA IV, rebuilt from scratch.
GTA 3 Radio Stations
Nine stations, plus a custom station for your own music: Head Radio, Double Clef FM, K-JAH, Rise FM, Lips 106, Game Radio, MSX FM, Flashback 95.6 and Chatterbox FM. Chatterbox FM was the first talk radio station in the series. The music mixes tracks written for the game by Craig Conner and Stuart Ross with songs from real artists.
Frequently Asked Questions about GTA III
When did GTA 3 come out?
In October 2001 on PlayStation 2, on the 22nd or 23rd in North America depending on the record. PC followed on 20 May 2002, Xbox in late 2003, mobile on 15 December 2011 and the Definitive Edition on 11 November 2021.
Is GTA 3 the same as GTA San Andreas?
No. GTA III (2001) follows Claude in Liberty City. GTA San Andreas (2004) follows Carl Johnson in the state of San Andreas and is a separate game, the third of the 3D era that GTA III started. There is no GTA San Andreas 3.
Where does GTA 3 take place?
In Liberty City in 2001, a city based loosely on New York and split into three islands: Portland, Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale.
What is the tank cheat in GTA 3?
On PlayStation: Circle, Circle, Circle, Circle, Circle, Circle, R1, L2, L1, Triangle, Circle, Triangle. On PC, type GIVEUSATANK during gameplay. A Rhino tank spawns directly in front of Claude.
Can you play GTA 3 on PS5?
Yes, two ways. The Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy, Definitive Edition, released on 11 November 2021, remasters GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas. The original version, re-released on PS4 in December 2015, also came to PS5 in November 2020.
How many islands are in GTA 3?
Three: Portland, Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale. Together they make up Liberty City, which Rockstar based loosely on New York City.