When you think of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, your mind immediately goes to neon-soaked American coastlines, massive skyscrapers, and high-speed chases down sprawling highways. But did you know that the only time the franchise ever officially left the United States was way back in 1999?
: For many gamers, driving on the left side of the road was the ultimate gameplay curveball.
Fans have been begging for a modern, 3D, open-world London experience for decades. However, Rockstar co-founder and former writer Dan Houser famously stated in interviews that Grand Theft Auto is inherently about American culture and satire. While they could make a fantastic UK crime game, it simply wouldn't feel like GTA . gta-london-gmae
: It boasted an incredible, authentic soundtrack full of ska, reggae, and 60s beat music that perfectly set the mood.
Instead of robbing modern banks and evading SWAT teams, you were working for the twins (a nod to the infamous Kray twins), dodging Bobbies, and pulling off heists in full retro aesthetic. 🎸 What Made It So Unique? When you think of the Grand Theft Auto
: Instead of "Wasted" or "Busted," you were told you were nicked, and characters spoke in heavy cockney rhyming slang. 🛑 Why Hasn't Rockstar Gone Back?
Long before the jaw-dropping 3D worlds of Liberty City and Los Santos, GTA was a top-down, bird's-eye-view pixel fest. Released as an expansion pack for the original 1997 game, GTA: London 1969 dropped players smack in the middle of a swingin' 1960s London. Fans have been begging for a modern, 3D,
: It remains the only GTA game to be set in a real, explicitly named city rather than a fictional parody like Liberty City.