It's November, and you know what that means: It's time to prepare your video game consoles for one of the biggest and most important video game releases of the decade. Grand Theft Auto VI is set to release on PlayStation V and Xbox Series X and S on November 19, ending a 13-year drought for fans who have awaited a new release since Grand Theft Auto V in 2013.
As fans complete their preparation for the big day, CGC is reflecting on how the GTA series got its start by highlighting a very special submission that passed through the grading room: a sealed UK edition of Grand Theft Auto for the PlayStation, which was the first official release of the game and the true beginning of the series.
Grand Theft Auto (a.k.a. Grand Theft Auto 1) was released in the UK in December 1997, a full six months before US players could get the game. The example that was submitted to CGC was in excellent condition considering it is nearly three decades old. With a near-perfect seal and barely any blemishes to the case or its contents, this sealed Grand Theft Auto for the PlayStation (1997) received a grade of CGC 9.9 A+, becoming one of the highest-graded CGC-certified examples.
Originally developed as Race'n'Chase for Windows 95, PlayStation, and other home video game consoles, Grand Theft Auto was once conceived as a "cops and robbers" scenario, where players would take the role of an officer chasing after criminals in the city. The concept, however, was considered too dull, so DMA Design (which would later become Rockstar North) decided to shift to the criminal's point of view to encourage more exciting gameplay and give players as much freedom over their actions in the game as possible.
Unlike the Grand Theft Auto games that most fans grew up with, the first game in the GTA series wasn't entirely 3D modeled, instead using top-down graphics and gameplay. Players could choose to play as one of eight protagonists (four in the PlayStation version) in their quest to rack up as much of a bounty as possible by stealing cars and creating mayhem in one of three fictional American cities: Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas. New levels are unlocked each time a player hits the required bounty amount within the time limit.
Although Grand Theft Auto 1 received generally mixed reviews from players and critics upon its initial release, the game became a commercial success after it was released in other regions. Grand Theft Auto 1 sold more than $1 million units by the end of 1998 and was regaled as one of the greatest video games of all time by several publications. DMA Designs even released two expansion packs for the game in 1999, though one was made exclusive to PC.
"We're thrilled to have certified one of the most important games in video gaming history," said Kenneth Thrower, Director of Video Game Grading at CGC. "Grand Theft Auto is one of the biggest video game franchises of all time, and we're grateful that we were able to certify and share a small piece of the franchise's humble beginnings."
About CGC
Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles, including trading card games (TCGs), sports cards, magazines, video games, and home media. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services. If you collect it, we grade and protect it.
CGC is part of the Certified Collectibles Group, a global provider of expert and impartial authentication and grading services for collectibles. Since 1987, the Certified Collectibles Group companies have certified more than 110 million collectibles, including coins, banknotes, comic books, cards, autographs, and stamps.