The GTA series has been with us for almost 30 years. But what does the title actually mean and why does it only have a little to do with the gaming experience that awaits you in the upcoming GTA 6?
What does GTA mean? GTA stands for Grand Theft Auto. A “Grand Theft” is the legal term in the USA for a serious theft. In contrast, there is “Petty Theft,” which refers to minor theft. The term “Grand Theft Auto” is not actually found in the law, but has established itself as a jargon term for serious auto theft.
What is the difference between Petty and Grand? The value and the nature of the stolen item play a significant role – with the value varying from state to state. In Florida, the threshold is about $750, while in California, it is $950.
GTA could have been called something completely different
How does that relate to the GTA series? The term “Grand Theft Auto” was coined during the development phase of the first installment in 1997. At that time, the game still had the working title “Race’n’Chase” and it was primarily about stealing cars, racing through the city, and having police chases.
Over the course of development, the gameplay became more open, focusing on a criminal career. However, stealing cars remained a central mechanic to navigate the map and start missions. The title “Grand Theft Auto” was meant to reinforce that, although it doesn’t really fit as well as one might assume.
In GTA, you often steal cars with the owner still inside. You have to use violence to take a seat at the wheel and drive away. However, in the USA, this is no longer considered theft, but “Carjacking” and a violent crime.
By the time of GTA 3, the series famously evolved away from the arcade-like gaming experience to a complex satire of crime and society with a massive open world and countless side activities. The theft of cars is still possible, but it is no longer at the forefront of the gaming experience.
Nevertheless, Take-Two and Rockstar would never consider renaming their franchise. The brand identity of GTA is simply too strong and valuable. When people hear GTA, they immediately think of the games from Rockstar.
Fun fact to end: Although the publisher Rockstar Games is based in the USA, the developer of the GTA series originally comes from the UK. There, thefts are not divided into serious and minor. Instead, the intention behind the theft plays a significant role:
- If a thief steals a car to keep it permanently, sell it or dismantle it, it is called “Theft of a motor vehicle”
- If someone takes a car without permission for a joyride but then simply leaves it by the roadside, the offense is called “Taking Without Owner’s Consent,” abbreviated as: TWOC
The latter seems to be quite popular among the youth, which is why in certain circles, the verb “to twock” and the noun “twocking” have established themselves. If Rockstar had named their game according to local law and slang, the series might today be called TWOC or Twocking.
Do you know any other fun trivia facts about the GTA series? Feel free to drop them in the comments! The hard crunch phases that Rockstar unfortunately regularly brings their blockbusters across the finish line should also be considered a crime: Former Rockstar employee is glad not to be involved in GTA 6: “You don’t have to drive them into burnout”
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