Former Rockstar Developer Confirms Development of Multiplayer for GTA 3

Grand Theft Auto 3 was a significant turning point for the beloved series. It was the initial game to feature full 3D graphics and showcased the potential of Rockstar’s chaotic world. The only thing it lacked was multiplayer, but a former developer has recently confirmed that it was intended to have this feature.

In his written response to a question on Twitter/X, Obbe Vermeij confirmed that he had developed a multiplayer feature for GTA 3. However, due to the excessive workload and only basic gameplay being functional, this aspect of the project was ultimately canceled.

I coded multiplayer for gta3. Since gta1 & 2 had MP we thought gta3 should have it as well. The basic gameplay was working but there was too much to be done and we cancelled it. We tried again for Vice and failed. When SA came around we thought it was too late in the console…

— Obbe Vermeij (@ObbeVermeij) May 22, 2024

In 1995, Vermeij began his career at Rockstar North as a coder when the company was still called DMA Design. Eventually, he was promoted to Technical Director and was listed in the credits for every game from GTA 3 to GTA IV and Chinatown Wars.

“According to him, he was responsible for integrating multiplayer capabilities into GTA 3. This decision was made based on the fact that previous installments, GTA 1 & 2, had multiplayer options. Despite the core gameplay being functional, the team ultimately decided to cancel the feature due to the overwhelming amount of work that still needed to be done.”

Vermeij also noted that GTA San Andreas faced a similar fate, as it was released late in the console cycle, making it difficult to implement a multiplayer feature. As a result, players were only able to access a co-op mode, until the release of GTA IV which brought back full-fledged multiplayer.

Despite his busy schedule, Vermeij made sure to commend the thriving community of modders who continue to support the older GTA games. He especially acknowledged the creators of SA: MP and Multi Theft Auto, noting their contributions in bringing multiplayer to San Andreas. When asked about these specific mods, he shared the following statement:

“It’s quite impressive. It’s wonderful to see that the communities are still highly engaged.”

The revelation that GTA 3 almost had a multiplayer feature brings up speculation about what could have been. While the game is already highly cherished, the inclusion of multiplayer would have greatly enhanced its appeal.