Scottish Museum Breaks Ground on Exclusive Grand Theft Auto Memorabilia

From June 29 through November 3, Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead fans will have a chance to check out never-before-seen memorabilia at the Game On exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, courtesy of Rockstar North.

Here's what Rockstar Games' Head of publishing, Jennifer Kolbe, said about the partnership, courtesy of Video Games Chronicle:

Scotland has played an instrumental part in the evolution of video games as a medium. We're excited to help the National Museum of Scotland reveal more about the nation's contributions to this thriving aspect of modern culture.

The brainchild of Barbican International Enterprises, the Game On touring exhibition is a traveling showcase of video game history and culture. It has had stops in over two dozen countries since starting in London in 2002. Barbican International Enterprises eventually expanded on the original concept in 2010, renaming it to Game on 2.0, and they've shed light on the inner workings behind some of the most popular video games of all time, including Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead.

Here's a list of some of the exclusive memorabilia from GTA and Red Dead available for viewing at the Scottish Museum:

• A miniature statue of Claude, the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto 3, holding a bat
• A rare 10th-anniversary GTA 3 baseball bat
• A Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Skateboard
• A real-life replica of the "Key to the City" trophy from Grand Theft Auto 4, achievable only by completing the game
• A miniature statue of the Statue of Happiness from GTA 4, which is based on the Statue of Liberty
• A catalogue of all major Rockstar releases from the late 90s through the release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy — The Definitive Edition in 2021

Also available as part of the exclusive Rockstar-centric display are Kubrick figures from various GTA titles and several Red Dead memorabilia, such as an overlooking photo of Saint Denis, the largest settlement featured in the Red Dead series.

A criminally underrated aspect of GTA and Rockstar is their place in video game history. Behind the accolades, sales milestones, and the expected numbers for their next game, Grand Theft Auto 6, the two have left an indelible mark in the industry.

Through Rockstar North's efforts, GTA went from a top-down, open-world action game, to becoming the "ultimate video game franchise."

With GTA 6 releasing in 2025 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X (a PC release still isn't confirmed yet), Rockstar is expected to start ramping up its marketing efforts, including a potential partnership with Sony for the PS5 Pro.

Until then, GTA fans who want to walk through a piece of gaming history may visit the Game On exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland.