‘Complicated’ Grand Theft Auto 3 Nearly Didn’t See the Light of Day if Not for PlayStation Saying Yes Where Xbox Said No Way

Grand Theft Auto is perhaps one of the biggest gaming franchises of all time, and Rockstar is redefining the open-world genre. At a time when games are becoming more prevalent, Xbox nearly cost the world the GTA series if it weren’t for PlayStation.

Rockstar made a leap from 2D games to 3D with GTA 3 and had a vision of developing the franchise, but a certain publisher was doubtful of it becoming a success. Fortunately, there are those who’ve faith in what it’ll become and how it can shape the industry.

Grand Theft Auto 3 Nearly Didn’t See the Light of Day Because of Xbox

It is unsurprising for Microsoft to make such questionable decisions, especially with the recent shutdowns of several game studios and sending out an awkward severance package to employees who were just laid off. The publisher nearly cost the world one of the most ambitious games of the time because they couldn’t see the potential.

XBOX wtf is wrong with y’all??? 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/3gJ7q7khIU

— Witty  (@Joseph_Witty) May 12, 2024

Luckily, Microsoft was not the only publisher at the time, and Sony loves to bet on obscure and experimental projects. Similarly, the gaming company didn’t hesitate to trust Hideo Kojima and offered to aid him in Death Stranding.

Game development has evolved for the last two decades, and the developers of Rockstar didn’t falter after being doubted. The project was the best-selling game of 2001 and was beaten by its successor the following year. It was a clear indication that this type of game was the next big thing, and Microsoft could’ve been responsible for steering the developers away.

The franchise has made a significant impact in the industry and has become the gold standard for an open-world sandbox game. Each entry featured major improvements from previous titles, like the dynamic muscle and hair growth systems from GTA: San Andreas and Red Dead Redemption 2, respectively, and fans are hopeful these features will be integrated later in GTA 6.

PlayStation Has a History With Rockstar, and Fans Are Excited for GTA 6

It’s insane to think that Microsoft rejected the franchise because it was blind to its success. Things have turned out for the better, and the developers gained support from others and improved throughout time. All eyes are set on the next installment, which could possibly be delayed due to the nature of game development.

Rockstar has proven plenty and built a respectable reputation. It’s not planning to fumble anytime soon and has mandated all developers to work on site to avoid security breaches and for quality assurance. The developers can feel the pressure, and if history has taught the community anything, they can deliver a great and innovative gaming experience.

Microsoft failed to see what the franchise could be, but there are others like Sony who’re true visionaries, and it paid off back then and deserves credit for what the franchise is today.

Do you think Microsoft made a mistake by rejecting the idea? Let us know in the comments!