Rockstar Games’ blockbuster trilogy of classic Grand Theft Auto games are making their way to Netflix on December 14 as the streaming giant continues to bulk up its gaming lineup.
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition includes Grand Theft Auto III – The Definitive Edition, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Definitive Edition, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition, three of the most popular games in the long-running open world crime franchise. The compilation was originally released on various consoles in 2021, but will make it to Netflix as mobile-optimized games that are free to play for subscribers.
The high-profile title marks the latest effort by Netflix to bolster its gaming offering. The service offers a library of around 80 games that are free to subscribers, similar to Apple Arcade’s subscription service. The company believes gaming represents a growth opportunity and another way to retain customers in the increasingly competitive streaming world.
The GTA franchise helped popularized the open world game, allowing the player to walk, drive, or even fly through a massive city bustling with missions and sites. Each game takes place in a fictionalized version of a major city, like Vice City parodying Miami or Liberty City standing in for New York.
While GTA fans may hail the arrival of the games on Netflix, this compilation met with poor reviews and customer backlash when it first launched two years ago. While the games saw graphical improvements and improved controls, they were plagued by technical issues and art direction, and was among the lowest scoring games in 2021.
Netflix said the games were optimized for mobile. Subscribers can pre-register to play the trilogy today.