Grand Theft Auto is still wildly popular, but for those who missed its stay on the PS2, it can be difficult to express just how crucial the series was to that console's success. Characters like CJ from San Andreas are still referenced in pop culture today, and it wasn't considered strange for some PS2 owners to have a games library that was almost entirely made up of the Grand Theft Auto series.

Those who missed Grand Theft Auto on the PS2 have had it good for a while now, with Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas all available on the PS4 for digital download. According to a new ESRB listing, however, fans will soon be able to get their hands on two of the lesser-known greats of the PS2 era in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.

Without a new Grand Theft Auto coming anytime soon, now seems like the perfect time for Rockstar to rerelease the two titles, which functioned as extensions of Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City. While both Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories were well-received at the time of their release, it was during an era where expansions and add-ons were still unfamiliar territory for many gamers, which meant that many fans simply missed them because they didn't know to be looking for them.

Both games follow the same formula, using pre-existing major characters from the games they are spinoffs from to establish a prequel narrative about the crime bosses players work for in the main Grand Theft Auto titles. Both games also contain the usual Rockstar flair, with a mix of humor, gameplay, and off-the-wall moments to entertain fans. Vice City Stories even contains a Phil Collins concert, for those looking to return to a simpler, more inspirational time.

There's currently no release date for either title listed, and with a Grand Theft Auto 5 Switch port reportedly in the works, there's no guarantee they'll be out in the near future. Still, however, the fact that Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories will be available on a PS4 at all is exciting news for fans of the Grand Theft Auto golden era that took place on the PS2.

Source: ESRB