Grand Theft Auto III - Ports and Remakes

Ports and Remakes

Six months following the initial PlayStation 2 release of Grand Theft Auto III, versions for Microsoft Windows and the Xbox were made available. GTA III is notable for being the first game in the series to be released on a video game console before a PC version was available. Following GTA III, PlayStation 2 GTA games generally followed GTA III release pattern, in which the Microsoft Windows port is released within seven to eight months after the PlayStation 2 versions' release.

The Microsoft Windows version of the game, released on May 21, 2002, has been criticized for performance problems, especially in light of the much smoother performance of Vice City. This was due to technical issues; the game engine rendered everything within the draw distance, even things hidden behind buildings or trees, whereas Vice City only rendered what could actually be seen. The Microsoft Windows version does, however, support higher screen resolutions and draw distance, has more detailed textures, a customizable player skin, and a custom option for MP3 playback in cars.

The Xbox version was initially supposed to be released in spring 2002 but it was shelved when Sony signed an agreement with Take-Two Interactive (Rockstar Games' parent company), making the GTA series a PlayStation 2 exclusive until November 2004. However, the agreement was amended in 2003 and the Grand Theft Auto: Double Pack containing both GTA III and Vice City was released for PS2 and Xbox in December 2003. The Xbox version of the Double Pack has improved audio, polygon models, and reflections over the Microsoft Windows and PS2 versions of the game. The Double Pack was not released for Microsoft Windows. In November 2005, GTA III was re-released again for the Xbox and PS2, this time bundled with Vice City and San Andreas in a trilogy compilation, dubbed Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy. There were no new changes, though the set retained Double Pack's graphical improvements for GTA III and Vice City. A Nintendo GameCube port of GTA III was also planned to be released alongside the Xbox version, but was cancelled for unknown reasons. The Xbox version, also supports the playback of one's personal music library.

As of 2008, five GTA prequels set before events in GTA III have been released, with two of these titles for handheld systems. Liberty City in its GTA III form is revisted in the Introduction and one mission for the subsequently-released prequel San Andreas. Grand Theft Auto Advance was initially intended as a Game Boy Advance port of GTA III, but has since introduced a new storyline set in Liberty City, roughly one year before the events in GTA III. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2005 and later ported to the PS2. The game, which is also set in the same location as GTA III, takes place in 1998, three years before the events in GTA III. Liberty City Stories is the last GTA title to feature Liberty City in its GTA III form, as Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009) are entirely set in a completely redesigned Liberty City.

A Macintosh version, made with Cider, was released on November 12, 2010. On August 19, 2011 the game was released in the Mac App Store. On February 17, 2012, Grand Theft Auto III was removed from the Mac App Store. It was put back on the March 6, though no reason was made for the three week omission.

GTA III was ported by War Drum Studios and released for several Apple iOS devices, Android phones and Android Tablets on December 15, 2011 for its 10th anniversary. The port was announced in October 2011, and Rockstar originally announced that the game would support for Samsung Galaxy S II at launch, however, due to "technical differences with the Galaxy S2 that make the development process a special case still working on it", an update to support the Galaxy S II, Droid Bionic and Galaxy Nexus was released four days later. The mobile port is essentially the same as with the console and PC versions of the game, along with enhanced textures and models, as well as touchscreen controls. It has also been reported that third-party modifications, such as custom car models and textures originally designed for the PC port, also work on the mobile versions. When asked on the chances of iOS ports of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Rockstar told Digital Trends that it would be a "technical challenge", but said it was "very possible".

In June 2012, the American ratings board ESRB re-rated GTA III and Vice City. Both titles were listed with PlayStation 3 as platform and Sony Computer Entertainment America as publisher. No separate listings existed for Xbox 360 releases. GTA III was scheduled to be released on July 31, 2012 for PlayStation 3, however, it was later confirmed that the release would be delayed due to an issue with music licensing. On September 25, 2012 GTA III was officially released for the PlayStation 3 via PlayStation Network.