With Grand Theft Auto VI due on 19 November 2026, many players are looking back at the series’ history. But many of the earlier games are no longer sold. Here is where each GTA can be played legally today.
The top-down years (1997–1999)
| Game | Original platform | How to play today |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto (1997) | PC | Original copies only (also released on PlayStation and Game Boy Color) |
| GTA: London 1969 (1999) | PC, PlayStation | Original copies only |
| GTA: London 1961 (1999) | PC | Original copies only |
| GTA 2 (1999) | PC, PlayStation | Original copies, including Dreamcast and Game Boy Color versions |
The 3D revolution (2001–2004)
GTA III (2001), Vice City (2002) and San Andreas (2004), originally on PlayStation 2, are available in Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Handheld and spin-offs (2004–2009)
- GTA Advance (2004, Game Boy Advance): never re-released; original cartridge needed.
- Liberty City Stories (2005, PSP): later on PS2; also available on iOS and Android, including through GTA+.
- Vice City Stories (2006, PSP): later on PS2; original copies, or the mobile version for GTA+ members.
- Chinatown Wars (2009, Nintendo DS): later on PSP; also on iOS and Android, including through GTA+.
The HD era (2008–2013)
- GTA IV (2008): no native PS5 or PS4 version, but the PC Complete Edition, which includes both expansions, runs on modern computers. It also plays on Xbox Series X|S through backwards compatibility.
- The Lost and Damned (2009) and The Ballad of Gay Tony (2009): included in the PC Complete Edition.
- GTA V (2013): available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.
- GTA Online (2013): available on current consoles and PC.
The future: GTA VI
GTA VI is set in the state of Leonida, a version of Florida centred on Vice City, with protagonists Jason and Lucia. It arrives on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on 19 November. A PC version has not been confirmed.
A note on preservation
The fact that so many classic games can only be played on original hardware highlights a wider problem in the games industry: unlike films or books, many older games are not kept on sale, making it harder for new players to experience them legally. For GTA fans, the Definitive Edition and mobile versions cover much of the history — but the series’ earliest chapters remain the territory of collectors.
