While the first couple Grand Theft Auto games had their fans, the game that really put the franchise and Rockstar Games on the map was Grand Theft Auto 3. The groundbreaking game was an open world revelation, setting the bar high for the countless copycats that followed. Grand Theft Auto 3 is quite easily one of the most important video games ever produced, and now it seems that it may be making some kind of a comeback, if a new rating from Australian ratings board is any indication.
The Australian Government's Department of Communications and the Arts has given a new classification to a product simply called Grand Theft Auto 3, which has been given the R18+ rating. No other details about the project are available, except that the classification was issued today.
Now, this could mean absolutely nothing, but it also could be an indication that Rockstar is planning to release a remastered version of Grand Theft Auto 3. It may also mean the Grand Theft Auto 3 enhanced port on PS4 is making its way to other platforms, like Switch or Xbox One. We won't know for sure until Rockstar itself decides to divulge more information, but we're nearing an important date for GTA 3, which has been fueling speculation that this classification is pointing to a comeback of some sorts for the critically-acclaimed game.
Grand Theft Auto 3 originally launched on October 22, 2001, so we are coming up on the game's 18 year anniversary. Better yet, October 22 falls on a Tuesday this year, and since video games are typically released on Tuesdays and Fridays, it could very well be an indication that fans may be treated to a surprise-launch of Grand Theft Auto 3 on new platforms. Rockstar did release Grand Theft Auto 3 on mobile to celebrate the game's 10th anniversary, so maybe it will do something similar on the 18th anniversary.
Then again, if a Grand Theft Auto 3 remaster was in the works, one would have imagine that it would be announced by now. Nintendo hosted a Nintendo Direct earlier this month, and there was no mention of a GTA 3 Switch release, and PlayStation's State of Play didn't have anything to say about it either. Even Xbox had an Inside Xbox presentation focused on upcoming game releases, so Rockstar had multiple opportunities to pull the curtain back on a GTA 3 remaster.
Ratings boards are often reliable indications of new games, so it does seem more likely than not that Rockstar is planning to release something related to GTA 3 in the near future. What that is remains to a mystery, and fans will just have to keep speculating until Rockstar decides to share more information.
Grand Theft Auto 3 is out now for iOS, Android, PC, PS2, PS4, and Xbox.
Source: Australia Government Department of Communications and the Arts