Rockstar revealed today that GTA Vice City began as an expansion pack to GTA 3
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City stands out among Rockstar’s GTA franchise titles as one of its flagship games; yet many may be surprised to learn it started life as an expansion for Grand Theft Auto III!
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City made its debut as part of the Grand Theft Auto franchise back in 2002 and quickly established itself as an unforgettable gaming experience, chronicling Tommy Vercetti’s rise to power while providing both character development and an unforgettable setting that have proven difficult for other GTA games to replicate despite ongoing franchise offerings such as GTA VI.
However, according to former Rockstar North technical director Obbe Vermeij (as reported by Insider Gaming), GTA: Vice City was initially intended as DLC expansion pack for GTA III before becoming too great a game to limit itself as such.
“Rockstar New York suggested setting Vice City during the 80s in Miami,” according to Vermeij’s blog post. Initially it was meant as a mission pack to GTA III; once GTA III proved so successful and Vice City began looking sufficiently different from GTA III was it decided it should stand alone as its own game.”
Vermeij claims this decision was made six months into Vice City’s development – quite early to assess its effect. But with its fast success as 2002’s best selling game and still popular discussion today, Rockstar may well have made the right call in making their choice clear.
Grand Theft Auto VI promises to take players back into Vice City they first experienced over 20 years ago – giving fans an exciting glimpse of some iconic landmarks and scenery they may not have experienced since.
Relatedly, Grand Theft Auto VI’s trailer should arrive sometime this December.
