There have been many rumors and speculations about the possibility of a Grand Theft Auto (GTA) game set in London. While some fans have claimed that such a game actually exists, others have dismissed it as nothing more than a myth.
So, was there really a GTA game set in London? Let’s dive into the history of the GTA franchise to find out.
The Early Days of GTA
The first Grand Theft Auto game was released in 1997 by DMA Design (now known as Rockstar North). The game was set in three fictional US cities: Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas. Players took on the role of a criminal who could complete various missions throughout these cities while avoiding law enforcement.
GTA: London 1969 and 1961
In 1999, just two years after the release of the original GTA game, DMA Design released an expansion pack called “Grand Theft Auto: London 1969.” As its name suggests, this expansion was set in London during the Swinging Sixties. Players could drive around in classic British cars and complete missions that were inspired by iconic British TV shows like The Sweeney and The Professionals.
A year later, another expansion pack called “Grand Theft Auto: London 1961” was released. This time, the game was set in an even earlier time period – the early 1960s – and featured new missions and vehicles.
Were These Expansion Packs Standalone Games?
While both “Grand Theft Auto: London 1969” and “Grand Theft Auto: London 1961” were marketed as expansion packs for the original GTA game, they were actually standalone games that could be played without owning the original. However, they did require players to own a copy of the original GTA to be able to play them.
What Happened to the London Games?
Despite being well-received by fans and critics alike, the London games were not as commercially successful as the original GTA game. As a result, DMA Design decided to focus on developing a new game set in a fictional US city for their next release. This game, Grand Theft Auto III, was released in 2001 and became a massive commercial success.
Since then, the GTA franchise has continued to dominate the gaming industry with each new release breaking sales records. While fans have continued to clamor for a return to London, Rockstar Games (the publisher of the GTA franchise) has not yet announced any plans to revisit the UK capital.
Conclusion
So, was there really a GTA game set in London? Yes, there were actually two – “Grand Theft Auto: London 1969” and “Grand Theft Auto: London 1961.”
While they were standalone games that did not require players to own the original GTA game, they were not as successful as their predecessor and were eventually overshadowed by newer entries in the franchise. Despite this, fans continue to hope that Rockstar Games will one day return to London for another installment in the beloved franchise.