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GTAUniverses-LibertyCity

From top to bottom:
Liberty City (2D Universe), a city founded on land bought from Native Americans by Belgian settlers in 1603. The city's central island, Liberty Island, is visible in the background. (Inspired by real-life New York City)
Liberty City (3D Universe), a city established in 1798, around 22 years after the Declaration of Independence in the United States. The city's central island, Staunton Island, is visible in the background. (Inspired by several American midwestern cities and areas of Rockstar North's homeland in the United Kingdom).
Liberty City (HD Universe), a city originally established as New Rotterdam in 1625, before changing the name in 1664. The city's central island, Algonquin, is visible in the background. (Inspired by real-life New York City).

...the “universes” are the worlds interpreted at different definitions, 2d, 3d and high definition...
— Rockstar North during a Grand Theft Auto III Q&A on Rockstar Newswire.

The Grand Theft Auto Universes are the collection of three alternate parallel dimensions and realities created by Rockstar North (formerly known as DMA Design) for the each type of narrative created for the Grand Theft Auto series.

The series is divided into three distinct parallel universes, officially named by Rockstar North as the "2D Universe", "3D Universe" and the "HD Universe", with each continuity sharing a similar universal hierarchy (city names, brands, companies, vehicles, etc.).

Description[]

...The move to HD created a schism in this fictional universe, rendering CJ, Toni and co, as mythical characters from a bygone era. But will we see stories from the previous game looping into this one? "I think that might be too mannered," says Houser. "Niko had a particular kind of story and we're trying to make this different. We might allude to things from that world, but we didn't want it to feel like, well, here's the opposite of an immigration story – we wanted a fresh take on what it means to be a criminal in this world of hyper-real Americana".
— Interview with Dan Houser in The Guardian

The Grand Theft Auto series is split into separate fictional parallel universes, officially named by Rockstar North as the "2D Universe", "3D Universe" and the "HD Universe" – each one named after the primary level of graphics capability used in each era.

The three universes are designed to be completely separate to each other so that no physically appearing characters or storylines would overlap.

Each universe is considered separate with only brands, location names and in-game media personalities (celebrities and radio DJs) shared between universes, yet still unrelated to their previous continuity versions.

The names "Liberty City", "San Andreas" and "Vice City" are also reused in each separate reality as part of a tradition created by Rockstar North, and as a recurring homage to the series' top-down roots.

Separate Timelines Map[]

The following map shows the current timeline of the series' three separate universes created by Rockstar North.

Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 & 1969Grand Theft AutoGrand Theft Auto 2Grand Theft Auto: Vice City StoriesGrand Theft Auto: Vice CityGrand Theft Auto: San AndreasGrand Theft Auto: Liberty City StoriesGrand Theft Auto AdvanceGrand Theft Auto IIIManhunt seriesGrand Theft Auto IVGrand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty CityGrand Theft Auto: Chinatown WarsGrand Theft Auto VGrand Theft Auto Online (until the 2017's Gunrunning update)Grand Theft Auto Online (since the 2017's Gunrunning update)Grand Theft Auto VISince the 2017's Gunrunning update, GTA Online's timeline moves with each new Content UpdateRockstar North (formerly known as DMA Design)2D Universe's Timeline of Events3D Universe's Timeline of EventsHD Universe's Timeline of Events1961196919971999?2013?1984198619921998c. 20002001200820092013201720242025?test
About this image


The Universes[]

2D Universe[]

The 2D Universe refers to the first original Grand Theft Auto universe created by DMA Design (prior to Rockstar Games' acquisition of the studio). The universe follows the continuity started in the original Grand Theft Auto, loosely connected via promotional material.

This universe is notorious for the 2D top-down arcade-like gameplay, with a high score system.

There are a total of four games (including two expansion packs for the original game) that take place in the 2D Universe:

3D Universe[]

ManuntWikiTemplate
ManuntWikiTemplate
Manhunt Wiki has an article on 3D Universe

The 3D Universe refers to the second Grand Theft Auto universe created by Rockstar North (formerly DMA Design). The universe follows the new continuity started by Grand Theft Auto III, and subsequent prequels to it's story. The 3D Universe continuity is shared with Rockstar North's Manhunt series.

The classic Top-Down Perspective camera is also featured in Grand Theft Auto Advance and optionally in Grand Theft Auto III.

HD Universe[]

The HD Universe refers to the current Grand Theft Auto universe created by Rockstar North. The universe follows the new continuity started by Grand Theft Auto IV. Each major title in this universe is set in the game's current year of release.

So far it includes seven games, including a standalone two-part expansion pack for Grand Theft Auto IV, the series' long-running multiplayer title, and an upcoming title:

Common Misinterpretation[]

Rockstar North (DMA Design) and Rockstar Games[]

RockstarNorthandDMADesign

Rockstar North, formerly known as DMA Design.

RockstarNorth-WebsiteHome

Rockstar North's official website

In the Grand Theft Auto series, all three universes consist of a storyline written and developed entirely by Rockstar North (est. 1984 as DMA Design), a video game developer based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

DMA Design, currently named under Rockstar's label as Rockstar North, is the video game studio known as the creators of both the Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt franchises, hence the explicit connections and direct mentions to characters across both series, including the well-known sexual innuendos in various in-universe business names and dozens of references towards United Kingdom/Scotland culture.

The universes appears to belong to Rockstar North titles only, as there are many contradictions when comparing to other similar non-Rockstar North open-world titles published by Rockstar Games (such as Angel Studios/Rockstar San Diego's Midnight Club and Red Dead etc.)

Viewports and Universes[]

TinyRacers-GTAO-Official2

Grand Theft Auto Online played from a top-down perspective in Tiny Racers.

It should be noted that "universe" (fictional worlds), "in-game camera viewport" (Top-down view, isometric view and 3D view) and image quality (HD) are completely different subjects – older titles being remastered to high definition does not retcon their established lore into the HD Universe.

In Grand Theft Auto, a universe consists of a collection of games that follow the same continuity as the game title that originally established the universe.

Reused Names[]

Location Names[]

UnitedStatesofAmerica-GTA1-ChapterSelectionMenu

The chapter selection menu in Grand Theft Auto, introducing Liberty City, San Andreas and Vice City.

As part of the tradition created by Rockstar North in the early 2000s, the names "Liberty City", "San Andreas" and "Vice City" are reused across each new universe created, as a homage to the series roots.

Each of the names are always tied to spoofs of the same real-life city - New York City, San Francisco and Miami, respectively. "San Andreas" would later be rebranded as the California-inspired state's name in which San Fierro (San Francisco) is located.

With each new reboot of the series, the background story of each city is completely rewritten (establishment dates, district names, etc.), including Manhunt settings, notably the new unseen Carcer City mentioned in Grand Theft Auto V, in order to prevent an overlap of stories between universes.

Some of the examples include:

In real-life 2D Universe 3D Universe HD Universe
Cities
New York City
  • Manhattan
  • Brooklyn
  • Queens
  • Bronx
Liberty City Liberty City Liberty City
San Francisco San Andreas San Fierro RET San Fierro
Miami Vice City Vice City Vice City
Miami Beach Vice Beach (Not a city) Vice City Beach (Not a city) Vice Beach
Los Angeles
  • Hollywood
Unnamed Los Santos Los Santos
Compton Unnamed Ganton (Not a city) Davis
Las Vegas Unnamed Las Venturas Las Venturas
New Orleans Unnamed Cottonmouth Cottonmouth
States
State of New York Unnamed State of Liberty State of Liberty
State of New Jersey State of New Guernsey Shoreside Vale (Not a state) State of Alderney
State of California Unnamed State of San Andreas State of San Andreas
State of Nevada Unnamed Northern San Andreas Unnamed
State of Florida Unnamed State of Florida State of Leonida RET


Similarity of Events[]

The Epsilon Program does not exist in just one time or place. Kifflom!
— Epsilon Program promotional website(s), Rockstar North.

In the HD Universe, there are multiple mentions to events. These mentions are references to the previous universe as fan service to the players, while at the same time, they are canonically a separate unrelated yet similar event.

For example, certain major events such as the Los Santos Riots depicted in the 3D Universe are said to have happened at some point in the HD Universe. These events are not considered the same events, as they are triggered by different reasons, with a different outcome and different characters involved. Both of the riots in each universe are inspired by the real-life 1992 Los Angeles Riots.

Major Lore Differences[]

Across All Universes[]

  • Liberty City in each new universe has a complete different pre-history.
    • In the 2D Universe, Liberty City was established in 1603 by Belgian settlers after acquiring the land from Native Americans.
    • In the 3D Universe, Liberty City was established in 1798, around 22 years after the Declaration of Independence in the United States.
    • In the HD Universe, Liberty City was established as New Rotterdam in 1625, before changing the name to Liberty in 1664.
  • San Andreas in each new universe is different type of location associated with California.
    • In the 2D Universe, San Andreas is a spoof of real-life city of San Francisco.
    • In the 3D Universe, San Andreas is a spoof of real-life state of California. Cities located in the state includes Los Santos (Los Angeles), San Fierro (San Francisco) and Las Venturas (Las Vegas).
    • In the HD Universe, San Andreas is a spoof of real-life state of California. Cities located in the state includes Los Santos (Los Angeles) and San Fierro (San Francisco).
      • A currently-unnamed separate rendition of the state of Nevada exists as implied by Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto Online. The only known city in the state is Las Venturas (Las Vegas).
  • Vice City in each new universe has a complete different pre-history and/or demographics.
    • In the 2D Universe, the ethnic neighborhoods of the city are Little Dominica and Little Bogota, parodies of real-life Little Haiti and Little Havana.
    • In the 3D Universe, the ethnic neighborhoods of the city in Florida are Little Haiti and Little Havana, parodies of real-life Little Haiti and Little Havana.
    • In the HD Universe, the ethnic neighborhoods of the city in Leonida are Little Haiti and Little Havana, parodies of real-life Little Haiti and Little Havana.
  • The "Vice Beach" name is used as a spoof name for parodies of real-life Miami Beach across all three universes. Vice Beach appeared as a neighborhood (2D), resort island in Vice City, Florida (3D), and an incorporated city in Leonida (HD), the latter matching with its real-life counterpart.
    • In the 3D Universe, Vice Beach is simply an a.k.a. name for Vice City Beach.
  • Recreations of the state of New Jersey across all three universe includes New Guernsey (2D), Shoreside Vale (3D) as a borough of Liberty City, and Alderney (HD).
  • "Florida" is recreated in each new universe is different type of location.
    • In the 2D Universe, "Florida" is seen on Chapter Selection menu as the city in which Vice City is located. However, the in-universe state name is left ambiguous.
    • In the 3D Universe, Florida appears as a major setting as the city in which Vice City is located, causing an 3D Universe-exclusive "anomalia" in which real-life cities of Miami, Tampa and Reddick are mentioned by name.
    • In the HD Universe, Florida's name was originally treated valid as the city in which Vice City is located. The real-life name was eventually ditched in favor of the introduction of the state of Leonida, a heavily satirical rendition of Florida in with the cities of Vice City and Vice Beach are located, retconning previous mentions of Florida.

2D-to-3D Universe Reboots[]

  • Exclusive to the 3D Universe, real-life U.S. Presidents are mentioned multiple times and play a minor background role, including Ronald Reagan and George Bush.
  • El Burro is the only character from the 2D Universe to have been complete rewritten for 3D Universe, as a complete different character with different background.
    • El Burro is sterotypical homosexual Mexican gangster killed in 1997, while the new El Burro is a heterosexual Hispanic bestiality porn actor turned gang leader alive as of 2001.
  • The Liberty City-New Guernsey Italian Mafias "Vercotti and Sonetti Family" have never existed. In the 3D Universe, the Liberty City Mafia families include the Leone, Sindacco and Forelli Families, the latter being active as early as the 1960s.
  • The in-universe recreation of New Jersey in the 3D Universe is treated as a borough of Liberty City, rather than a separate state.
  • The Japanese Yakuza have never operated in San Andreas.
  • Jamaicans gangs have never operated in Vice City.
  • Uncle Fu's Crime Syndicate have never existed in San Andreas. In the 3D Universe, multiple Triad gangs have control of Chinatown, San Fierro.
  • The Triads have operated in Liberty City since the Handover of Hong Kong in 1997.

3D-to-HD Universe Reboots[]

  • Exclusive to the HD Universe, Vice City is located in the state of Leonida.
  • Exclusive to the HD Universe, Las Venturas is located in an unidentified gambling-free Western U.S. state.
  • Mount Chiliad is a different type of mountain, with different height and located in a different county of San Andreas.
  • The Callahan Bridge and the neighborhoods of Harwood and Saint Mark's have never existed in Liberty City's history, making the incidents associated with each area non-canon.
  • The Vinewood Sign is located on the top of Mount Haan in Vinewood Hills.
    • Adjacent mansions including Madd Dogg's Crib have never existed, as seen in the vintage Vinewoodland portrait.
  • Grove Street Families was a mere set of a bigger gang (The Families) rather than a full gang with multiple sets. The gang has vanished prior to 2013 and there are no known members.
  • The Varrios Los Aztecas are long-time rivals of The Families.
    • The gang is named after a street in the incorporated city of Davis, Los Santos County.
  • The Liberty City Italian Mafias "Leone, Sindacco and Forelli Families" have never existed. In the HD Universe, the Five Liberty City Mafia families (Gambetti, Ancelotti, Messina, Lupisella, Pavano) active as early as the 1920s according to LCPD Database.
  • The Triads have operated in Liberty City since the 1980s.
  • The Pole Position is an unseen adult lounge in Los Santos.
  • Rubber Fist from the Manhunt series have never existed.
    • Many brands from Manhunt 2 are rebranded as different ones, removing any mention of Rubber Fist and Cottonmouth Asylum (for example: H4PP1 and Hingmyralgan)
  • TV-MK uses its early concept name "MK-TV" on the Pirate Music store.

References[]

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