Grand Theft Auto III - The Definitive Edition

To do: Just scratching the surface. 2011 mobile leftovers.

Presented in Sleaze-O-Vision™, it's the almost® Definitive* Edition of Grand Theft Auto III!

Development Leftovers#

This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: Look through everything.

Uncompiled Mission Script#

In the files for the Switch port, Gameface\Content\OriginalData\GTA3\Scripts contains the uncompiled scripts for story missions, side missions and various other parts of the game. In most cases they also contain notes from developers, possibly from the original developers as well as Grove Street Games.

GXT Maker#

This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: gxtmaker-new.exe

Found in Gameface/Content/OriginalData/GTA3/Text is gxtmaker.exe, an application used to convert .txt files into .gxt text containers for the game.

Unused Graphics#

A set of unused weapon icons from Liberty City Stories, including the unused phone icon.

Oddities#

Classic Radar#

In the “GameUserSettings.ini” file for each of the three games, there is a setting called “ClassicRadar” which is set to false by default. This setting is not found in the game’s settings menu, and enabling it causes the radar to adopt the classic 2D perspective, rather than being constantly tilted.

Revisional Differences#

The Definitive Edition is based on 2011 mobile port, which itself based on 2002 PC port.

Shortly after release, the Windows version was made unavailable as Rockstar "remove[d] files unintentionally included" in the game. The game was eventually restored on November 14th with the uncompiled mission scripts removed from the files. Unlike digital release, physical release of Nintendo Switch version was released on 11th February 2022. More polished Netflix / iOS / Android versions was released on 14th December 2023. Those fixes, plus new updates was included on 13th November 2024 in 1.112 patch for all platforms.

[11/11/2021] 1.0.0 / Patch 1.0.1 (NSW : 1.0.3)#

- Initial digital and physical release
- Based on Unreal Engine 4 (instead RenderWare) for graphics / physics rendering
- Some tools was used to convert in a readable language the old files of missions, scripts and driving caracteristics of cars
- Some assets comes from GTA V
- AI was used to upscale and improve some old textures
- Another old or small textures was redesigned or completely replaced
- 3D models was upgraded (most faces looks wrong, but bodies are less cubics and hands got improvements)
- All trees and vegetation was replaced
- Some lights was added around all the map to compensate the lack of direct lighting
- Controls are more like GTA V (full 3D camera, selection wheels for weapons and radio stations, vehicles driving)
- The background of the hills was improved with fake homes, to give the impression of an extended city
- A tracking system (like a GPS) was added on the map menu

[11/19/2021] Patch 1.0.2 (NSW : 1.0.4)#

- Better rain effect
- View distance is improved on Nintendo Switch
- Another bugfixes

[11/30/2021] Patch 1.0.3 (NSW : 1.0.5)#

- Cinematic camera
- Original sounds for the main menu
- Another bugfixes
- Physical release of Nintendo Switch version is based on this patch

[02/25/2022] Patch 1.0.4 (NSW : 1.0.6)#

- Framerate improvements
- Tail Lights for the cars
- The middle finger of Claude is back
- Another bugfixes

However, this patch add two new issues (NSW) : Big subtitles now appear incorrectly (but refocus correctly) / Incorrect background texture in selection wheels.

[10/18/2022] Patch 1.04.5 (NSW : 1.0.7)#

- Unknown

[11/13/2024] Patch 1.112 (NSW : 1.0.8)#

- Classic PS2 lighting option (with original colours, fog, birds and weather effects)
- Possibility to run with certain weapons
- Secret access to the second island was removed (old glitch from originals)
- The windy effect in Chinatown is back
- Background issue from NSW 1.0.6 patch was fixed (with grey color)
- Better audio synchronisation on the opening introduction (NSW)
- Possibility to pause during cutscenes
- Shadows of trees are more dynamic on day time
- The 3D model of Asuka was improved
- New splashscreen, reference to GSG was removed
- VGD (Rockstar Australia) was added in the credits
- Another bugfixes

Despite this huge patch, the DE is still "not fixed" ;

Still present problems compared to the PS2 version : Visual graphics issues, collissions issues, ugly faces of 3D models, classic colors don't match perfectly with all the weather, missing songs.