Grand Theft Auto III Lore & Story Guide
Dive into the lore, story events, and characters of Grand Theft Auto III.
What is the story of Grand Theft Auto III?
Grand Theft Auto III is a 2001 open-world action-adventure game developed by DMA Design (now Rockstar North) and published by Rockstar Games. It was the first 3D game in the series. Set in Liberty City, it follows the silent protagonist Claude as he rises through the city's criminal underworld after being betrayed by his girlfriend, Catalina.
Story and timeline
- The Three Universes (Meta - The Multiverse) — The distinct timelines that separate the generations of Grand Theft Auto games.
- Phil Cassidy: Arms Dealer Across the 3D Universe (1984-2001 - Vice City to Liberty City) — A gun-loving redneck who appears in three games - losing an arm along the way.
- Phil Cassidy: The One-Armed Army (1986 - Vice City) — A gun-running redneck who loses his arm to a homemade bomb becomes one of the most recurring characters in 3D-era GTA.
- Catalina: From San Andreas to Liberty City (1992-2001 - San Andreas to Liberty City) — The unpredictable psychopath who connects GTA San Andreas and GTA III through her relationships.
- Salvatore Leone: The Don Across Three Games (1998-2001 - Liberty City) — The ruthless Leone family patriarch appears in three 3D Universe games, building and losing his empire.
- The Rise of Claude (2001 - Liberty City) — A silent protagonist carves a path through Liberty City's criminal underworld after being betrayed.
- The Prison Convoy Ambush (2001 - Portland) — A Colombian Cartel ambush on a police convoy gives Claude his freedom - and his story begins.
- The Leone Crime Family (2001 - Portland) — Claude becomes an enforcer for the most powerful Mafia family in Liberty City before inevitable betrayal.
- Yakuza vs. Colombian Cartel (2001 - Staunton Island) — Claude aligns with the Yakuza in their war against Catalina's Colombian Cartel for control of Liberty City.
- The Gangs of Portland (2001 - Portland) — Portland Island is a war zone between the Triads, Diablos, and street gangs fighting for turf.
- Shoreside Vale: The Final Act (2001 - Shoreside Vale) — The Uptown Yardies, the Cartel compound, and the explosive climax all converge in Shoreside Vale.
- The SPANK Epidemic (2001 - Liberty City) — A deadly new drug floods Liberty City's streets, fueling gang wars and destroying communities.
- Donald Love: Media, Murder & Real Estate (2001 - Staunton Island) — A media mogul manipulates gang wars and orchestrates assassinations to serve his real estate empire.
- Liberty City: Where It All Began (2001 - Liberty City) — The first 3D rendition of Liberty City - three islands that changed gaming forever.
- 100% Completion Guide (2001 - Guide) — Complete guide for achieving 100% in GTA III - the original 3D GTA experience.
- Missable Items & Tips (2001 - Guide) — Important warnings and tips for completing GTA III to 100%.
- Lazlow: From Radio King to Reality TV Wreck (2001-2013 - Across America) — The only character to span all five mainline GTA games - and his embarrassing descent through each one.
- Liberty City Across the Ages (1998-2008 - Liberty City) — The evolution of GTA's most iconic city across three games, two universes, and a decade of gaming history.
Characters
- Phil Cassidy — Minor Character
- Claude — Protagonist
- Catalina — Primary Antagonist
- Salvatore Leone — Mission Giver / Antagonist
- Toni Cipriani — Mission Giver
- Maria Latore — Love Interest
- Asuka Kasen — Major Mission Giver
- Kenji Kasen — Mission Giver
- Donald Love — Mission Giver
- 8-Ball — Ally
- Ray Machowski — Mission Giver
- El Burro — Mission Giver
- Miguel — Antagonist
- King Courtney — Mission Giver / Antagonist