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Library/Game/Grand Theft Auto III
Grade B24 sourcesHIS-01462

Grand Theft Auto III

Game · 2001 · Niche

27Editable slideCertificate

Rockstar reported over 11 million GTA III units sold amid TV mentions and lawsuits.

Trailer · Rockstar Games on YouTube
Clip · Game Maker's Toolkit on YouTube
Grand Theft Auto III
Wikipedia (non-free, fair use)
GTA III Definitive Edition screenshot of Liberty City and an elevated train, released by Rockstar in 2021.
Rockstar Games / PlayStation Blog
Grand Theft Auto III 10-Year Anniversary Video
Rockstar Games on YouTube
video-game-hall-of-fame-2016
TIME

Spread Score

How it works
Reach0Contagion35Breadth60VelocityNo data yetLongevityNo data yet27

Numbers

Original Steam edition peak, July 2012 to October 2026
619
As of Oct 23, 2026 · Open web · Steam Charts
Seed to milestone
14 months
Oct 22 ’01 to Dec 23 ’02
Platforms
6
Started on Retail
Origin
Mixed
Gaming

Mechanics

  • Controversy
  • TransgressionPrimary
  • Platform jump
  • Dupe economy
  • Pairing

How it spread

Trace the origin

GTA III reached PS2, games press, forums, TV and hip hop mixtapes. Take-Two reported about eight million PS2 units by December 2002, the milestone anchor here. An Australian withdrawal and a US lawsuit carried the debate beyond games.

Documented milestone; not a measured attention peak.

Jul ’00Sep ’01Apr ’02OctNov ’03Jan ’05Jul ’08Jan ’12Nov ’14Oct ’17Nov ’20Jul ’22PressRetailOpen webTVAudioApp stores
PressRetailOpen webTVAudioApp stores

13 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

Timeline (16)

  1. May 2001

    Rockstar Games / Terry Donovan precursor · May 2001

    Rockstar pitched GTA III at E3 after feeding previews to websites and magazines.[1]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. October 2001

    Rockstar Games / DMA Design seed · Oct 22 ’01

    Rockstar released GTA III for PlayStation 2, letting players explore Liberty City in 3D.[2][3][4]

  3. IGN / Doug Perry press · Oct 22 ’01

    IGN reviewed the game as a crime simulation combining driving, shooting and exploration.[5]

  1. platform jump · Dec 6 ’01

  2. commercial · By end of Jan 2002

Join free to see the other 13 events and the full chart. Free, on every case.

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Why it worked

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Origin
Mixed
Sector
Gaming
Region
GB
Original Steam edition peak, July 2012 to October 2026
619
As of Oct 23, 2026 · Open web · Steam Charts
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

App & software · App stores · 202558

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