The leaked pre-release build has some notable differences in vehicle models, character designs, and even the iconic theme music.

A fascinating piece of gaming history has surfaced as gamers uncovered a pre-release build of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, dating just weeks before the game's official launch in 2002. The build, timestamped October 2, 2002, provides a unique window into the final stages of development for what would become one of gaming's most influential titles.

The discovery, which was first spotted by Rockstar Games researcher Vadim M., emerged through GTA Forums, where users quickly began exploring this rare glimpse into Vice City's development.

While the build represents a nearly complete version of the game, it contains several differences from the final release that showcase how Rockstar Games was fine-tuning the GTA title right up until launch.

Among the most interesting findings is an intact debug menu, a developer tool that normally wouldn't be accessible to players. This menu reveals behind-the-scenes technical information, including hardware performance metrics and object counting tools, sharing insight into how the development team optimized the game during its final stages.

The build also includes several aesthetic differences from the release version. Players have documented variations in vehicle models and wheel designs, alternative character models for units like SWAT teams, and subtle but noticeable changes to the game's iconic theme music.

Perhaps most noticeably, since it's on the screen at all times, even the heads-up display (HUD) shows refinement from this pre-release version, featuring thicker black outlines around text elements that would be adjusted before launch.

Camera work in the game's introduction and cutscenes also differs from the final product, implying that Rockstar was still perfecting the game's cinematic presentation mere weeks before release. This particular build is believed to be a preview version specifically prepared for GameSpot's review process.

The Vice City leak follows a recent trend of pre-release GTA builds becoming available to the public, with early versions of GTA: Liberty City Stories for PSP having surfaced just weeks prior.