Before Grand Theft Auto 6, CNET Staff Relive Their Favorite GTA Moments

Rockstar Games is set to release Grand Theft Auto 6 on Thursday, Nov. 19, with both PlayStation and Xbox saying it’s the most preordered game in the history of either platform’s digital storefront. Given the 13 years of buildup and hype surrounding the game, that’s perhaps not surprising.

Though the series has evolved over time, Grand Theft Auto has been a pop culture behemoth since its inception in 1997, thanks to its biting satire, complex storylines and cinematic gameplay. 

CJ and Big Smoke’s train chase

I have so many memories of playing Grand Theft Auto games at an age some might call “too young.” I’d go over a friend’s house and we’d boot up Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on his PlayStation 2 and do whatever we wanted. It wasn’t until later that I found out there were missions to accomplish. And the funniest part for me was failing the mission Wrong Side of the Tracks in San Andreas. The character Big Smoke would utter the iconic line, “All we had to do was follow the damn train, CJ!” That line is funny, goofy and a good reminder that beneath the guns and violence, these are inherently silly, unserious games.

– Zachary McAuliffe, senior writer

Cockney coppers in London

I still quote the policemen from GTA London 1969 who yell, “Stop right there! Oi!” My friends and I in college would play it hotseat-style on my ancient laptop, and the cockney coppers became a meme (or “banter” as we called it back then, onions hanging from our belts as was the fashion).

– Nick Hide, managing copy editor

Video game dance moves

I’ll say walking out of Blockbuster with a copy of GTA: Vice City as a teen whose most hard-core games before that were maybe Twisted Metal and Shivers 2 made me feel like a rock star. Tearing across the city, blowing red lights and running over onlookers was an absolute thrill, especially since my friends and I didn’t even have our learner’s permits yet.

The moment that sticks with me the most, however, was the infamous private dance scene in the Pole Position mission. I was playing over a long weekend at my best friend’s house, taking turns at the wheel, when we finally got to the scandalous part we’d read about on the internet. But instead of titillated, she and I were reduced to fits of giggles as the pixelated private dancer blockily gyrated on screen. And – sorry to our parents – after regaining composure, we immediately got to copying the unsultry choreo and teaching it to our friends. These moves would be busted out at the most opportune moments, even when we got old enough to go to real clubs. Sadly, it’s never earned us as much as a free drink.

– Faith Chihil, social producer

Postgraduation stress relief

When GTA 5 came out in 2013, I had just graduated from college, moved back home with my parents and had no idea what to do with my life. So I waited several hours in line at my local GameStop, along with hundreds of other people, to be the first to get the game. I rushed back home and played for an irresponsible amount of time. There was something comforting about having an entire world to explore when I felt stuck in my own. Mostly, though, I made life worse for the people of Los Santos. My degree wasn’t opening many doors, but carjacking was.

– Nelson Aguilar, writer

Grand Theft Auto 5’s huge map

Forget the explosion-packed heists or the bullet-riddled car chases around city streets; my favorite GTA moment is when I discovered just how vast the GTA 5 map was and how much of it I could explore on foot. Or by helicopter. 

GTA 5’s map was considered massive when it launched, and while I thoroughly enjoyed playing through the game’s actual storylines, I spent just as much time (if not more) simply seeing what’s out there beyond the expected play zones. 

The GTA 6 map is apparently at least twice the size of that of GTA 5, and I’m super hyped to settle into hour after hour of serene exploration of a whole new landscape.

– Andrew Lanxon, editor at large

For more on GTA 6, here’s what we know about the game and how to prep your console for the massive file size.