A modder has achieved a technical milestone by successfully integrating the entirety of Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City into the game world of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The project, documented by modder Dryxio, allows players to experience the older titles directly through in-game textures like televisions and billboards.
Technical Implementation
What initially appeared as a visual gag has evolved into a fully functional implementation. Dryxio demonstrated the capability to boot up Grand Theft Auto III on a television set within Grand Theft Auto: San Andreaslater expanding the project to include Vice City. The mod renders these games as real-time textures, allowing for complete mission progression and the use of save files.
Within 48 hours of the initial discovery, the modding project progressed to include large-scale displays, such as a cul-de-sac-wide flat screen, allowing CJ to interact with the previous titles while remaining inside the San Andreas engine. The setup effectively nests the three classic Rockstar sandbox games into a single, functional, and interactive environment.
The Impact of the Classic Trilogy
The project serves as a reminder of the foundational impact of the post-2000s Grand Theft Auto trilogy. These games were originally lauded for creating dense, living metropolises—Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas—that functioned within the hardware limitations of their time, including the PlayStation Portable. As the industry anticipates the release of Grand Theft Auto VI in November 2026, this mod highlights the enduring flexibility of the series' earlier architecture.
Quick Facts
- Modder: Dryxio
- Games Integrated: Grand Theft Auto IIIGrand Theft Auto: Vice Cityand Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Functionality: Full mission progression and save file support via in-game rendered textures
- Status: Demonstrated publicly in July 2026 via video documentation