Have you ever wondered how every era of the Grand Theft Auto series could actually fit together? While Rockstar has always maintained the 2D, 3D, and HD continuities are completely separate, they can't help but fill each entry with callbacks, cameos, and easter eggs., and GTA 6 will be no different. So, we’ve built the ultimate unified timeline that blends them into one massive, interconnected American crime saga. We trace the epic story of the downfall of the Forrelli crime family, chart the the explosive rise of Tommy Vercetti in 1980s Vice City, CJ's return to Los Santos, Niko Bellic's disillusionment with the American Dream in a grimy Liberty City, and the chaotic, intertwining lives of Michael, Franklin, and Trevor in the San Andreas of GTA 5. Get ready to explore the betrayals, heists, and legendary crossovers that have defined decades of gaming history: perfectly setting the stage for Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval's upcoming rampage across the modern Vice City of GTA 6.
Get ready for the next generation of Rockstar Games with this complete Grand Theft Auto timeline explainer and full series recap. In this comprehensive GTA lore video, we break down the entire history of the franchise, covering key story events across the 2D, 3D, and HD universes. Whether you're looking for a detailed GTA 5 story recap, want to understand the secret connections between iconic protagonists like Carl “CJ” Johnson, Claude, and Tommy Vercetti, or just fancy a refresher, this is the ultimate guide. Watch this complete GTA retrospective to master the deep lore of the Grand Theft Universe before you return to Vice City in GTA 6.
00:00 Intro
01:34 Grand Theft London ‘61-’69
02:14 The Great Cities of America
02:48 1984 - Vice City Stories
05:48 1986 - Vice City
09:19 1987 - CJ, Michael, and Trevor
10:18 1992 - San Andreas
14:36 1998 - Liberty City Stories
15:45 199? Niko’s War
16:18 200? Lucia Caminos is born
16:37 2001 - GTA 3
19:10 2004 - Ludendorff
20:22 2007 - Niko’s Scuttling
21:02 2008 - GTA 4
24:30 2009 - Chinatown Wars
25:24 2013 - GTA 5
35:56 GTA Online
36:23 2026 - GTA 6
38:34 Outro
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