GTA could have been a completely different game

Grand Theft Auto is one of the most profitable franchises in video game history. GTA V for PC, for example, sold over 1 million copies in just one day after its release on Steam. However, the game could have been completely different.

Before it became an open world game, it looked like a simulator. Instead of the player causing disorder, he was responsible for containing it. called Race 'n' Chase, the player controlled police chasing criminals.

The change in direction happened because the producer found the concept boring. By putting the player as cop, they realized that there was not so much fun. The gamer could not break the rules, it was not possible to drive on the sidewalk or pass red lights. Pedestrians also served as obstacles and it was almost impossible to drive fast without running over them. As the player was a police officer, he received punishments for recklessness.

Instead of working on these flaws, the DMA development team decided to reverse roles and put the player in the role of a criminal. Bank robberies, murders and car robberies became the mission objectives. Player freedom was also crafted from these ideas and, as the years passed, the series gained notoriety for its lack of rules.

When it was released, the title generated a lot of controversy. In the book Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto, journalist David Kushner tells the story behind the game's development. The title is available in English only.

Source: Business Insider