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
#IGN #Gaming #GTA6
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Not sure why I am watching this video when I know I have played all the GTA games, know all the stories and I already know they are not at all connected to each other in anyway!
Not sure of the point of such timeline when only HD is canon.
Why do they keep cutting from the HD remake ve4sion ti the old pS2 versions
Can someone help me with the name of the song playing 8:56
I love gta vice city stories
Many memories
I will replay it again this year
Everybody CALM DOWN….
Between GTA3, vice city and San andreas the constant switching between original release and definitive edition footage is wild
GTA VI should be in UHD timeline
Nice work.
Too many ads like this should be illegal
IGN makes an Timeline Video
Timeline is in another Universe..
Quit Video
We miss Brian Altano
people that played SA just for the sandbox and not complete the story, have missed out on how awesome it is
glad i have brave for youtube
See ya in Vice City , IGN 🔥😎
I'm gonna guess Lucia would have been born in the early to mid 2000's. Again we don't know until the game comes out. It Means she would have been a little kid around the events of GTA IV, her dad could have fought in the same cage fighting ring as Luis.
You have the most entertaining, informative, and well thought-out pieces on this channel. Keep up the good work, sir.
Spoilers Jason and Lucia both blow their brains out in a car and you get to play as Jack marston
You forgot to mention GTA Advance which took place in the year 2000
"He ain't my ji lao!"
Honestly this timeline just proves Vice City still has the strongest vibe of any GTA setting. Come at me in the replies — what actually beats it?
I’d like to (not) see ign’s completing a 100+hr game the next say lol 😂
Can this guy not put his face on screen please
14:42 "I'll never forget it…"
Answer me this, does this guy have teeth? Every time i see him i wonder 🤣
Didn't know ign hired reddit mods 🤓 🤡
lucia being a baby during gta 3 is stupid. She'd be in her 30s in GTA 6
I tend to forget that I never played gta vice city stories or liberty city stories. Just gta, gta 3, san andrea, vice city, gta 4 ( dlc too) and gta 5. I genuinely forget about those games
People complaining about ads and not using adblock is insane. You know that you should adblock for surfing on the web? If you want to support your youtuber you can just make exclusions. There's so many virus ads and pop ups and scripts all over the internet that adblock should be used for safety! Even if you have youtube premium you should have adblock for the rest of the web. Be safe, be smart. Yes, you can use adblock in the phone and android tv. If you are using youtube from tv's system get yourself an android box. Tv's are full of spyware and you get happier with a box that you can install apps.
Buy premium and stop complaining about ads 😂
remain calm was actually my next video on the queue .
Nah that was a good video 🔥
It's not confirmed to be Phil Cassidy. Just a gun store owner of Phil's Ammunation.
It’s not coming out in nov their probably gonna release on Christmas so they know everyone could afford around that time of year
22:38 😮 what did he say