Two prototype builds of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories have surfaced online, providing a rare glimpse into the development process of the 2005 PlayStation Portable title. These builds, shared on 4chan on January 20, are being dissected by enthusiasts eager to uncover how the game evolved during production. Originally released as a prequel to GTA III, Liberty City Stories holds a special place in the franchise for its handheld debut and narrative depth.
The two builds, particularly the July 26, 2005 version, reveal a game still heavily borrowing from its predecessor, GTA III. While this build cannot run as a standalone game, the data within offers several intriguing details (via):
- Splash and Loading Screens: The splash screen mirrored GTA III’s introduction, though the sequence of Rockstar logos differed. Loading screens were entirely unique to this early version.
- Limited Audio Content: Only three radio stations—Head Radio, Lips 106, and LCFR—were operational. Additionally, sound effects such as mission completion melodies and ambient noise in missions like Biker Heat were distinct from the final release.
- Reused Assets: Many in-game assets, including models and files, were directly copied from GTA III. It was only later in development that Liberty City Stories began to incorporate unique models and designs.
- Simplified Map: The map in this build was less detailed, with missing secondary roads and schematic representations of industrial and port areas on Staunton Island.
- Functional Testing: The build appeared to focus on basic functionality rather than final visuals or mechanics, indicating its role in testing the game’s core systems.
The leak has reignited discussions among the GTA community about Liberty City Stories’ place in the franchise’s history. Some fans on GTA Forums have speculated on the similarities between Liberty City Stories’ beta design and the beta versions of GTA III. These include features such as ferries, simpler car shading, and design elements resembling concept renders of GTA III.
This isn’t the first major leak concerning the Grand Theft Auto series. Several notable leaks have occurred in the past, including prototypes for GTA Advance, snippets of the GTA V source code, and early footage from the development builds of GTA VI.
