Liberty City Calls Again: A GTA Classic Returns Free to PS Plus in June

You'll want to mark your calendar for June 10 if you're a PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium subscriber. Grand Theft Auto III: The Definitive Edition is hitting the service at no extra cost, giving you full access to one of GTA's most memorable protagonists and Liberty City, complete with its chaotic streets, all without spending a dime.

Grand Theft Auto III revolutionized open-world gaming back in 2001 when it first came out, and the version PS Plus members are getting comes with a fresh coat of paint. Perhaps more importantly, most of its launch issues finally fixed, thanks mostly to the efforts of Rockstar Australia.

When Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition first dropped in late 2021, it was met with harsh criticism from fans who expected better from such beloved classics. After three years of updates including a massive patch last fall, and a falling out with Grove Street Games, the game is actually in pretty good shape now.

For those keeping track, this marks the second time GTA III has graced the PlayStation Plus catalog. The first round happened right when the remaster launched, giving early adopters a taste of Claude's silent rampage through Liberty City.

Since then, Rockstar has rotated through the trilogy, with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City appearing in October 2022 and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas making its debut last June during the same Days of Play event.

Speaking of patterns, history suggests you'll have about six months to experience or revisit this groundbreaking title. Previous Rockstar Games titles on the service have followed this timeline religiously.

Most recently, Grand Theft Auto V was the freebie on the PS Plus library, leaving just in time for the same game to arrive on the Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass as Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced . This sets a precedent that GTA 3 will likely follow. That means you've got until roughly November 2025 to scratch that nostalgic itch or experience the birth of 3D Universe for the first time.

You can start with Liberty City, then hit Vice City and San Andreas, before jumping into Grand Theft Auto 4 and GTA V. By the time you're done, you'll be perfectly primed for the next chapter in Rockstar's crime saga.

With Grand Theft Auto 6 scheduled to launch on May 26, 2026, diving into GTA 3 now gives you the perfect opportunity to work through the entire Grand Theft Auto franchise. All of this is happening during PlayStation's Days of Play event, which means you can snag a 33% discount on PlayStation Plus Premium memberships if you're not already subscribed.

For those worried about the Definitive Edition's notorious reputation, rest assured that this is the best version of the game so far. The rain effects no longer look like someone smeared petroleum jelly on your screen, character models have been refined, and most of the game-breaking bugs have been squashed. Purists will always prefer the original, but it's certainly more playable and enjoyable now.

Just remember to download it before it inevitably leaves the service, because if there's one thing we've learned about PlayStation Plus, it's that nothing stays forever. Note that GTA 3 is also available to play on the Sega Dreamcast, thanks to the efforts of a group of modders.