Grand Theft Auto was a defining game of the late 90s. It sparked a seismic shift in gaming and was a success both on PC and gaming console. Even now, two decades later the game remains a part of pop culture. Users of social media can find videos impersonating the characters while the series is also referenced in popular songs. In this article, we’ll take a look back at the launch of the game and the success that it has spawned in the ensuing years.
Unrivaled Success
Since its inception GTA, and the franchise as a whole has sold over 400 million copies. The game has changed since its first iteration. Graphics and technology have improved but new additions have been added too. For example, the Diamond Casino & Resort was opened for gamers in 2019. The casino is the same as a real-life online casino. Gamers can gamble their money on table games, virtual racing and slots like jackpot king. There are missions integrated into the game which take place in the casino. This new feature, mixing gameplay and reality with gambling.
A Different Time
The first GTA was launched in 1997. Within the first two years of its launch the game sold three million copies. The gameplay was attractive to gamers all around the world as it offered them an alternative reality. One which they couldn’t experience in their everyday life. While the graphics were met with criticism by some gamers, the game’s original themes as well as music and entertainment were widely viewed as what made it great.
There is no doubt that the game pushed the boundaries but it is what brought its success. The creators leveraged different locations for new games while adding minimal changes to the gameplay. Gamers enjoyed this familiarity throughout the years and this contributed to the astonishing success of the subsequent versions.
Appearing on Xbox
The following few years after the first game were extremely busy for the developers. In the next decade, they released eight versions of the series and eventually released the most successful edition to date in 2013. While, it wasn’t until 2003 that GTA was played on an Xbox, two years after the console’s release, when Grand Theft Auto III was released.
The game lives long in the memory of its first players and the series continues to enjoy success worldwide. GTA V, which was launched nearly a decade ago, is still recording strong sales, with five million copies sold in the first quarter of 2023. This means that overall it has sold 180 million copies. This figure puts it at third in the all-time list of games sold. With the next instalment rumoured to be released in 2025, fans will have a long time to wait for the newest version. However, if it’s anything like its predecessors, it will be worth it.
