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Spoiler Warning: Plot details, ending details, or both are in the text which follows.
Spoiler Warning: Plot details, ending details, or both are in the text which follows.
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The following is a timeline of events in the canon of the 3D Universe of the Grand Theft Auto series, in the order in which they occurred.

Note that the article does not include events from the 2D Universe and HD Universe games, as they are officially confirmed not to take place in the same canon. [1] The timeline is not necessarily over after Grand Theft Auto III, as the events are followed by the Manhunt series. [2][3]

The following Grand Theft Auto titles are set in the 3D Universe:

Game Timeline Setting
Grand Theft Auto III
(Released in 2001)
2001 Liberty City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
(Released in 2002)
1986 Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
(Released in 2004)
1992 State of San Andreas
Liberty City (Briefly)
Grand Theft Auto Advance
(Released in 2004)
2000 Liberty City
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
(Released in 2005)
1998 Liberty City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
(Released in 2006)
1984 Vice City

Timeline[]

Pre-1900[]

1798[]

1809[]

1842[]

  • Colonel Henry Bolt, Colonel of the 66th Cavalry stationed in Fort Carson, leads his men towards Las Barrancas. The entire force falls into a hole on their journey, causing their deaths. [6]

1847[]

1869[]

1872[]

1877[]

1886[]

1888[]

1896[]

1900s[]

1923[]

1930[]

1932[]

1934[]

1935[]

1936[]

1937[]

1938[]

1939[]

1941[]

1942[]

1944[]

1946[]

  • The episode of 'Moorehead Rides Again' entitled 'The Case of the Exploding Breasts' is originally released. It is sponsored by the Friendly Napalm Company and written by P.H. Walzow. [27]

1950[]

1951[]

1952[]

1953[]

1954[]

1958[]

1959[]

1960[]

1962[]

1963[]

1964[]

1965[]

1966[]

1967[]

1968[]

1969[]

1970[]

1971[]

1972[]

1973[]

1974[]

1977[]

1978[]

1979[]

1980[]

1981[]

1982[]

1983[]

1984[]

1985[]

1986[]

1987[]

1988[]

  • An earthquake in San Fierro causes severe damage to the city, especially in the Doherty area. [104]
  • A pollution leak occurs in Liberty City, presumably with some harmful effects as a government body report stated: "This spill is nowhere near as serious as the pollution leak of 1988, so I don’t know why people are complaining". [105]
  • Madd Dogg performed at the Los Santos Forum. [citation/verification needed]

1989[]

1990[]

1991[]

1992[]

1993[]

  • Mayor Roger C. Hole is involved in the 'Million dollar lunch' scandal, in which Hole, three Russian prostitutes and a senior manager from a construction company are trying to secure government contracts. [117]
  • Rapper Madd Dogg releases Forty Dogg, his fourth album. [118]

1994[]

1995[]

1996[]

1997[]

1998[]

1999[]

2000s[]

2000[]

2001[]

2002[]

2003[]

2004[]

2007[]

2011[]

  • This was the year that Claude would have been released following his ten-year prison sentence. Claude never actually served his sentence as the convoy carrying him was ambushed by the Colombian Cartel en route to the prison.

References[]

  1. "Grand Theft Auto III: Your Questions Answered – Part One (Claude, Darkel & Other Characters)" - Rockstar Newswire"
  2. Shared universe confirmed by promotional material for both franchises, in-game dialogue, shared brands, direct mentions of story characters and in-game celebrities by name, vehicles, car manufacturers, city names, and overall 3D Universe features and lore.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Dixmor Hospital Patient Records, p. 4 - Patient Files: Daniel Lamb" (Official Manhunt 2 manual)
    DixmorHospitalPatientRecords-MH2-04
  4. LibertyCity-GTALCS-OfficialRockstarHighResDownload

    According to some writing on the map which came with the manual of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, it states that the map was made to celebrate the city's 200th anniversary.

  5. Billboard in Wichita Gardens in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
  6. A quaint desert town steeped in local history, home to preserved Hopi ruins and the terrible setting of the Barrancas Mass Grave. In 1842, the 66th Cavalry, under the command of Colonel Henry Bolt, was stationed in nearby Fort Carson when they answered a call for help from homesteaders under attack from bandits. Riding to the rescue, the whole force fell down a hole. It is said that the sound of a hundred horses can be heard riding through the town at midnight...
    Las Barrancas description - GTASanAndreas.com (Flash website; No longer available)
  7. SweeneyGeneralHospital-GTA3-logo

    Sweeney General Hospital sign in Grand Theft Auto III.

  8. Making Life Mean Something since 1869
    — FleischBerg tagline
  9. LCPD-GTAIII-SignTextureSAPD-GTASA-SignTexture
  10. Putting out since 1872
    — LCFD/FDLC tagline
  11. ...No-one's been born in Florida since 1877...
    — John F. Hickory on VCPR in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone! - Timeline & Events
  13. Rodeo style since 1888
    — Tagline in both the 3D and HD Universes
  14. VCPA Main Building sign
  15. According to the gates at the stadium.
  16. Grandtheftauto3.com -> Portland -> Overhead Station
  17. Sign in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
  18. Sign in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
  19. Cream Bun Fillers Since 1934
    — Tagline
  20. AveryCarrington-GTAVC-BradysgameManualEntry

    Avery is said to be 51 years old in the BradyGames guide officially endorsed by Rockstar Games.

  21. LibertyCityWarMemorial-Statue-GTAIII-Plaque
  22. She claims to be 47 years old on VCPR's New World Order show in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
  23. VCPR in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
  24. "How To Lose Friends And Alienate People?" - Liberty Tree (Official GTA: Liberty City Stories manual)
  25. Michael Hunt stated that the station played "the rock of Liberty City for 60 years" in Grand Theft Auto III.
  26. He claims to be 51 years old on WCTR in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
  27. VCPR in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
  28. She claims to be 34 years old on the VC for Lovers section of the official Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories website.
  29. TommyVercetti-GTAVC-AgeSource

    Tommy is said to be 35 years old in the BradyGames guide officially endorsed by Rockstar Games.

  30. VCPR hosts Michelle Montanius and Jonathan Freeloader state that the show is returning after thirty-two years, suggesting the show was cancelled in 1952. - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
  31. Liberty City's Gateway To The World. Where we meet new friends and prodigal sons. Francis International has proudly served all of Liberty City's transportation needs since 1953
    GTA III Flash website (No longer available)
  32. Ken is said to be 33 years old in the BradyGames guide officially endorsed by Rockstar Games.
    KenRosenberg-GTAVC-BradysgameManualEntry
  33. He claims to be 45 years old on LCFR's Heartland Values show in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
  34. Ammu-Nation and Derek the Dodo have been proudly bringing gun safety to your community for over 30 years!
    Derek the Dodo's gun safety PSA from 1984
  35. Lance is said to be 32 years old in 1986 in the BradyGames guide officially endorsed by Rockstar Games.
    LanceVance-GTAVC-AgeSource
  36. Ray, you're 40 years old, and you have no idea what's really going on.
  37. Real-life NASA is referenced multiple times in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, on promotional material and in-game radio stations.
  38. She claims to be 25 years old on Flash FM in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
  39. "Everything Musty Go!" Logo
  40. ...And remember this. Emmet is the place for guns! I've always got high quality merchandise. And I've been proudly serving the community for over 30 years!
    — Emmet to Big Smoke and Carl Johnson in Nines and AK's.
  41. The Buy American Coalition advertisement on Emotion 98.3 in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
  42. Caligula's has been a Venturas Institution for 30 years. Has always been Mob-controlled. No sooner does one Mob get dealt with than another moves in. Currently believed to be controlled by 3 major crime families from the east coast. New manager. Just out of rehab. Possible Mob connections.
    GTA San Andreas website (No longer available)
  43. Written on Manhunt 2 disc.
  44. He claims to be 23 years old on VCPR in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
  45. I can't be late opening my Café. In twenty years I have never open late.
  46. He claims to be 28 years old during the mission Supply Lines...
  47. Maccer.net - "Biography"
  48. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone! - "Timeline & Events" section
    (Paul claims that people started calling him "Kent Paul" in 1982, at the age of 17.)
  49. Vice City Inquirer, page 9
  50. Pandering to your perversions since 1966
    — Tagline
  51. Official Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Flash website.
  52. Are You Going to San Fierro?
  53. Site of the notorious Blackfield Bad Trip of 1967, in which some 700 hippies choked to death on toads. The district has since been developed into a state of the art indoor dirt bike arena.
  54. Advertisement on the official GTA III website and the Liberty Tree promotional website.
  55. Vice City PS2 manual: Howlin' Petes Biker Emporium: Serving downtown Vice City since 1968.
  56. Moon landing conspiracy theorists in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Other space exploration missions by NASA are mentioned on Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  57. Any radio station can play songs about abusing drugs and women. But we've been doing it successfully for 22 years. You're listening to... The Dust.
    — Radio stinger
  58. Tommy! Tommy. It's been too long. I know, I know. You're just overwhelmed with emotion. Fifteen years - seems like only yesterday.
    — Sonny Forelli during An Old Friend.
  59. Sonny Forelli: “How many was it? Ten? No, eleven men. That's how you get to be called the Harwood Butcher. Heh-heh-heh.”
    Tommy Vercetti: “You sent me to kill one man, ONE MAN. They knew I was coming, Sonny...”
    Sonny Forelli and Tommy Vercetti during Keep Your Friends Close...

  60. Leo's birth date comes from the real-life Manhunt 2 ID bracelet merchandise, containing both Leo's and Daniel's date of birth.
  61. Andee claims to be 26-years old (in 1998) on Lips 106 (while playing Nina Barry - "Bassmatic") - Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
  62. Baby, I've played professional sports for 14 years, including high school, and I'm making a comeback.
    — BJ Smith during his interview with Amy Sheckenhausen on K-Chat
  63. Carson General Hospital sign.
  64. PromotionalWebsite-GTASA-Flash-PayNSpray

    Official GTA San Andreas website > Flash > San Fierro > Doherty > Pay N Spray

  65. 65.0 65.1
    BrianJohnson-GTASA-PSM USA SA 87 5

    Pre-release PlayStation Magazine article containing some background information on Brian Johnson provided by Rockstar North.

  66. Burn Baby Burn sign in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
  67. Spray'n'go sign in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
  68. HannibalLiquor-GTASA-advert

    Hannibal Liquor advert in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

  69. VCBI Crime Tree Record (promotional website)
  70. KenRosenberg-GTAVC-BradysgameManualEntry

    BradyGames guide officially endorsed by Rockstar Games.

  71. Hyman Memorial Stadium sign in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
  72. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone! - Timeline & Events
  73. Westcoastraplegends.com - Gaffle One
  74. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories promotional website
  75. As implied by the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories manual.
  76. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  77. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  78. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  79. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  80. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  81. John F. Hickory: "No one's been born in Florida since 1877, but I've been here for 5 years, which is a very long time." (from the Perception and positive thinking show on VCPR's Pressing Issues)
  82. CluckinBellHappyChicken.com (Promotional website for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)
  83. 83.0 83.1 Vice City Public Radio - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
  84. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  85. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  86. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  87. As mentioned in Kill Phil: Part 2
  88. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  89. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  90. Shortly before the events of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
  91. "K. Rosenberg & Co." is briefly mentioned on a VNN, as "Rosenberg Companies".
  92. VNN news report after the mission Soldier.
  93. Lance Vance: “...I been making moves. I got hold of 20 keys man.”
    Victor Vance: “Are you crazy? Get rid of it.”
    Lance Vance: “No. All we need to do is sit on it, it's hidden out of sight, out of town man. We lay low and then sell it.”
    Lance Vance in Last Stand (in the final cutscene of the game), foreshadowing the deal in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

  94. Okay, so. They're brothers, okay. One operates the uh, the business, and the other one does the flying. Now they operate out of Mexico, no, no, no, wait... They own a farm in Panama...
    — Ken Rosenberg's unused dialogue from In The Beginning...
  95. \TEXT\american.gxt\INTRO\INT2_K
    \TEXT\american.gxt\INTRO\INT2_L
    \TEXT\american.gxt\INTRO\INT2_M
  96. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone! - "Timeline & Events"
  97. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  98. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  99. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  100. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  101. A calendar inside the garage is open on the month of January, which shows that Thursday is the first day of the year. The last year prior to 1992 (the year of the events of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas) to begin on a Thursday was 1987, suggesting the garage has been derelict for at least five years.
  102. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  103. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  104. In 1988, the Doherty district was devestated by an earthquake that leveled several blocks, and destroyed a countless number of properties. While most of the reconstruction has been completed, there are still visible signs of the earthquake's aftermath.
    Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - City Guides
  105. Pollution "not bad for health" by Thomas Stewart, April 1st, 2001.
  106. Wear Flowers in Your Hair
  107. Maccer.net - Header
  108. Yeah, been working on the streets three years though, and I realize that there is only one kind of crime in Los Santos: gang crime. That's why I joined C.R.A.S.H.
    — Jimmy Hernandez during The Introduction.
  109. San Fierro Packers advert
  110. 110.0 110.1 westcoastraplegends.com
  111. PromotionalWebsite-GTAIII-Flash-Staunton14

    Grandtheftauto3.com > Staunton Island > Asuka's Condo

  112. 112.0 112.1 westcoastraplegends.com
  113. OneEyedMonsterWar-GTASA

    Official GTA San Andreas website

  114. Now, look. It's either that, or Forelli's cousin, Giorgio, gets five years for fraud. You gotta take these guys OUT!
  115. WCTR News
  116. "R.C. Hole In Another Probe" - Anul Garbaskar, Liberty Tree
  117. "R.C. Hole In Another Probe" - Anul Garbaskar, Liberty Tree
  118. westcoastraplegends.com
  119. CluckinBellHappyChicken.com
  120. 120.0 120.1 westcoastraplegends.com
  121. "R.C. Hole In Another Probe" - Anul Garbaskar, Liberty Tree
  122. PromotionalWebsite-GTAIII-Flash-Staunton14

    Grandtheftauto3.com > Staunton Island > Asuka's Condo

  123. "R.C. Hole In Another Probe" - Anul Garbaskar, Liberty Tree
  124. "Gangs Rife on our City Streets, Corruption Everywhere" - Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  125. "R.C. Hole In Another Probe" - Anul Garbaskar, Liberty Tree
  126. PromotionalWebsite-GTAIII-Momma'sRestaurante

    Momma's Restaurante advertisement from the GTA III promotional website.

  127. Business Man Cleared of all Charges Returns to Liberty City by Jayne Kwiatowski, February 1st, 2001.
  128. RAILS Breakfast Cereal Under FDA Scrutiny by Beverly Clamhopper, October 30th, 1998.
  129. PromotionalWebsite-GTAIII-Flash-Portland15

    Grandtheftauto3.com > Portland > Hepburn Heights

  130. Information pickup in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
  131. 131.0 131.1 Liberty City Ranked Worst Place in America. Again. by Frenchie Cockmaven, October 30th, 1998.
  132. Crowfest98.com
  133. Fabric-8 sign.
  134. Manhunt - Scene 1: Born Again
  135. "'The W' to Drop in on Liberty City" - by Paul Civille, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  136. "Business Man Cleared of all Charges Returns to Liberty City" - by Jayne Kwiatowski, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  137. "From Baseball Bats to Rocket Launchers" - by Chris Carruthers, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  138. "Donald Love coming to Liberty" - by Paul Marchiando, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  139. "'Red Light' Licenses up for Renewal" - by Thomas Shaw, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  140. "Salvatore Leone: Just a Business Man" - by Julius Cohen, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  141. "Police Helicopters To Help Fight Crime" - by Trudy Fink, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  142. "Medicine and Healthcare: Zaibatsu Release Equanox" - by Brian Robinson, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  143. Pollution "not bad for health" - by Thomas Stewart, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  144. "Mackerel Factory to Expand" - by Kristen Burns, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  145. "Love to Chat?" - by Louie Schaffer, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  146. "Internal Affairs Investigate Links Between Yakuza and Police" - by Clint Glen, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  147. "Porter Tunnel Delayed (Again)" - by Ken Dellamonica, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  148. "Elderly Asian Man Held After Failing to Satisfy Immigration" - by Amy Salzburg, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  149. "Liberty Tree Wins Award. No New Information." - by Adam Tedman, Liberty Tree (Official GTA III website)
  150. Andee on Lips 106, after playing the song Bump To The Music
  151. Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!
  152. I ain't due my parole hearing for another three months now...
    D-Ice in the mission Rumble.
  153. Completion due next fall
    — One of Staunton Plaza adverts in Fort Staunton
  154. I don't know about you, but I just love the 1980s. Always have done. Well, at least since 1990. And I don't think I'm alone. I mean, I am alone now, which is why I've got time to make this website as part of my therapy, but, well, isn't the internet great?
    Kent Paul on Kent Paul's 80's Nostalgia Zone!, posted on July 1, 2002.
  155. westcoastraplegends.com
  156. “something sick...” on Valiant-ent.tv's forums by user mr_nasty (Promotional website)
  157. Calendar inside the Journalist's apartment.
  158. Maccer.net
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