Two prototypes of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories have appeared online, providing a rare glimpse into the development process of the 2005 PlayStation Portable title. These builds, shared on 4chan on January 20, are being analyzed by enthusiasts eager to Discover how the game evolved during production. Originally released as a prequel to GTA III, Liberty City Stories holds a special place in the franchise for its handheld debut and narrative depth.
The two versions, particularly the July 26, 2005 version, reveal a game that still borrows heavily from its predecessor, GTA III. While this build cannot be run as a standalone game, the data it contains offers several intriguing details (via):
- Presentation and loading screens: The splash screen mirrored the GTA III intro, although the sequence of the Rockstar logos was different. The loading screens were completely unique to this first version.
- Limited audio content: Only three radio stations (Head Radio, Lips 106 and LCFR) were operational. Additionally, sound effects such as mission ending tunes and ambient noise in missions like Biker Heat were different from the final release.
- Reused assets: Many game assets, including models and files, were copied directly from GTA III. Only later in development did Liberty City Stories begin to incorporate unique models and designs.
- Simplified map: The map of this construction was less detailed and was missing secondary roads and schematic representations of the industrial and port areas of Staunton Island.
- Functional tests: The build appeared to focus on core functionality rather than final visuals or mechanics, indicating its role in testing the game‘s core systems.
The leak has reignited discussions among the GTA community about Liberty City Stories’ place in the franchise’s history. Some fans on the GTA forums have speculated about the similarities between the Liberty City Stories beta design and the GTA III beta versions. These include features like ferries, simpler car shading, and design elements that resemble GTA III concept renders.
This is not the first major leak about the Grand Theft Auto series. There have been several notable leaks in the past, including GTA Advance prototypes, GTA V source code snippets, and first images of development builds of GTA VI.
