The evolution of Grand Theft Auto: how did it all become this way?

When Grand Theft Auto emerged in 1997, the premise seemed simple and even provocative: to place the player in the role of an ordinary criminal, loose in an open city, encouraged to cause chaos.

The execution, however, revealed something greater. From the beginning, the series focused on total freedom, a striking visual identity, and a direct relationship between the player and the world.

The first GTA was presented with an overhead camera, 2D graphics, and stylized cities. Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas already existed as concepts, albeit very basic ones. The visuals didn't aim for realism, but they were well-defined. Streets were easily identifiable, cars easily recognizable, as well as pedestrians even from a distance.

The gameplay was based on missions accessed through public telephones, something uncommon at the time. The player didn't have a defined or named protagonist. The central figure was almost an anonymous avatar, reinforcing the idea that the focus wasn't on who you were, but on what you could do within that chaotic urban space.

In Grand Theft Auto II, released in 1999, Rockstar — then still DMA Design — maintained the top-down view but drastically refined the presentation. The city gained a denser look, with dynamic lighting, a greater variety of vehicles, and more detailed animations. The world seemed more alive, even without abandoning 2D.

The major gameplay advancement came with the gang system. The player began navigating between rival factions, each with its own visual identity, behavior, and direct reactions to actions committed. Missions for one gang made others hostile, creating clear consequences within the world.

The aerial camera, now more fluid, allowed for more intense chases and a better understanding of the urban space. The game made it clear that chaos wasn’t only permitted, but expected. Grand Theft Auto's identity was beginning to solidify as something beyond a crime simulator.

Yes, this was the most important GTA of all time. Don't believe me? This product simply impacted Rockstar, PlayStation, and several other sectors of the industry.

The "do whatever you want" concept in Grand Theft Auto reached its peak. This time, the 2D visuals wouldn't be enough. And that's where DMA Design decided to create a new world. At the time, Aaron Garbut stated: "Before Grand Theft Auto III, games were just something to play, an adventure you participated in or a puzzle you solved. GTA III made them a place to live."

Behind the scenes, those who really understood video games wanted to get ahead. Sony saw Microsoft's arrival with the Xbox and understood that Rockstar and GTA III would be a great tool to attract players. The developers and the Japanese publisher didn't know it, but luck would find them when they signed a temporary exclusivity agreement.

Chris Deering, formerly of Sony, explained how this happened to GamesIndustry:

“We were worried when we saw Xbox coming. We knew exclusivity was key in many fields. Shortly before Christmas, we approached our partners with offers to keep their next-generation games exclusive to PlayStation for two years [...] And one of the deals we made was with Take-Two for the next three Grand Theft Auto games. At the time, it wasn't clear that Grand Theft Auto 3 would be as big as it was, because it used to be a top-down game. It was very lucky for us. And actually, lucky for them, because they got a discount on the royalties they paid. These deals aren't uncommon in industries with platforms. Including today with things like social media.”

Betting on Claude, the game had everything in its narrative. Betrayal, prison, drugs, and a much more impactful ending compared to its predecessors. A landmark game, it launched and quickly became one of the best-selling in the US. It was worth it.

They've already found that the open-world format is capable of captivating audiences. Now, the idea is to be bolder in their offerings, perhaps even going back in time.

Released in 2002 for PS2, GTA Vice City marked a decisive creative leap for Rockstar. The game abandoned the more raw tone of GTA III and opted for a strong identity, inspired by the 80s, with vibrant colors, sports cars, and a memorable soundtrack.

The setting in Vice City, a fictional city based on Miami, serves not only as a backdrop. It dictates the rhythm of the game, influences the missions, and reinforces the feeling of ascension in the criminal underworld. Each neighborhood reflects status, power, and the expansion of the protagonist, Tom Vercetti.

In terms of gameplay, Vice City refined the foundations of GTA III. The more compact map favors quick movement, while new mechanics, such as buying properties and business-related missions, enhance the player's sense of progress and control over the city.

Now let's talk about the game that made us spend hours in arcades, writing down cheat codes in notebooks. "Oh sh*t. Here we go again."

Released in 2004 for PS2, GTA San Andreas represented Rockstar's biggest leap in ambition to date. The game expanded the map to an entire state, with three major cities, rural areas, and extensive roads.

The story follows Carl Johnson, CJ, as he returns to Los Santos after his mother's death. Unlike previous protagonists, CJ has a strong emotional connection to his family, neighborhood, and past, which gives narrative weight to the plot and connects the player to the social conflicts portrayed.

The big twist here is: not everyone wanted to complete the story this time. CJ was so customizable that arcades were packed with people activating combinations simply for the pleasure of causing chaos across the map.

Is it wrong to talk about piracy? Absolutely. But how many people bought a jailbroken PS2 and invested in that cheap disc from the corner store just to have fun playing games? One word to define San Andreas? Generational.

The franchise's boldest leap would come years later with Grand Theft Auto IV, released in 2008. Here, the presentation changed completely. The three-dimensional Liberty City was rebuilt with strong inspiration from New York, betting on realism, urban density, and a much more somber tone.

Visually, GTA IV abandoned the cartoonish exaggeration and adopted a colder palette. The world seemed heavy, concrete, and oppressive. The city wasn’t just a setting, but an active part of the narrative. The player felt the weight of the urban space in every movement.

The gameplay also underwent important changes. Vehicle handling became more realistic, combat gained advanced physics and dynamic cover, and interactions with NPCs became more natural. Everything served to reinforce the feeling of living in that city, not just playing with it.

Once again in the series, the protagonist has an extremely rich background. Niko Bellic is presented as an Eastern European immigrant, marked by war traumas and seeking a better life. Following the most recent releases, his identity shapes the entire experience.

Niko isn’t just a functional criminal. He questions his choices, demonstrates remorse, and is in constant conflict between survival and morality. The narrative is built around this contrast, and the player comes to understand the world around him.

With GTA IV, Grand Theft Auto proves that the franchise isn’t just about chaotic freedom. The cinematic presentation, the more restrained gameplay, and a deeply human protagonist show that the series was ready to be more than just a game about stealing cars—it was ready to tell relevant stories within complex open worlds.

It arrived on PS3 in 2013, was re-released on PS4 shortly after, and already has a native version for PS5. No, we're not talking about The Last of Us, but rather the generational phenomenon with over 200 million sales worldwide: Grand Theft Auto V.

Once again, the level of freedom in gameplay has risen. Now with three protagonists and a story capable of connecting them, Trevor, Michael, and Franklin stole the show.

Less prudishness, more beautiful graphics, more realism, and the level of detail everyone expects from a triple-A title. The recipe was good enough to make the game last 13 years, but then came a surprise ingredient, absent in the other titles of the franchise: an online mode.

A bit confusing at times, GTA Online started as a playground. Gradually, seasonal events began to appear. Then, it seemed insufficient for what the IP's fans wanted, and they created their own universe within it.

Races with community-made tracks, where vehicles glitched and flew over the city, were no longer enough. Socialization was a pain, and for modders, it became an opening. GTA RP was born.

In GTA RP, a PC mod for GTA Online, you can finally be whatever you want to be. Gangs, job system, payments, voice acting, children, marriages, lifestyle, and crimes.

Various content creators made GTA V a phenomenon. On every network where live streaming was possible, a story was created. Rockstar understood the message.

You might be thinking: "So they shut down the mods?". No. They bought the modders. GTA RP lives on and continues to captivate many players, so there's no rush for the next step.

November 19, 2026. Rockstar continues to insist on this point. After delays, studio break-ins, gameplay leaks, and many rumors, GTA VI, the next step, has a release date.

Many doubts surround the project. After all, the product that became famous for offering freedom arrives in an era where awareness of right and wrong creates "barriers". Will the essence of "do whatever you want" remain alive? It's worth remembering some countries where Bully and the GTA series itself were banned from being sold. What will it be like in 2026?

Many game companies might have their hands tied. But not Rockstar. Two Jack & Sally-style protagonists take the reins of the game: Jason and Lucia.

Jason draws attention for being a ladies' man. Lucia, imprisoned in parts of the trailers, also has her charm. Together, they convey the aura of a couple, they appear as a couple, but will they finish the game as a couple?

And regarding freedom: what awaits us in terms of gameplay? Where will Rockstar innovate now? After the ultra-realism of Red Dead Redemption 2, the next step already feels like a demand. It needs to be better in every way.

Amidst the hype and all the profits generated, what are your expectations for the release of GTA VI?