How to Play GTA III on Xbox Series S/X Today
Grand Theft Auto III kicked off the modern era of the series back in 2001, and it’s still fully playable on current-gen Xbox consoles today. Here’s how.
The Main Option: GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition
The most straightforward way to play GTA III on Xbox Series S or Series X is through Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, released in November 2021. This remastered version runs natively on current-gen Xbox hardware with updated visuals and modernized controls. See our full Trilogy Definitive Edition guide for a deeper look at what’s included.
Is the Original Version Available via Backward Compatibility?
Unlike Vice City and San Andreas, GTA III’s original console releases were more limited in scope on Xbox specifically, meaning the Definitive Edition is by far the more practical and widely available route for most players today.
What’s Changed in the Remaster
The Definitive Edition updates GTA III’s visuals, lighting, and controls to feel closer to more modern Rockstar titles, while keeping the core 2001 mission structure and story intact. Note that the Trilogy’s 2021 launch faced early technical criticism, though subsequent patches have addressed much of it — see our Trilogy guide for the current state of the games.
Why Play GTA III Today
Beyond nostalgia, GTA III is genuinely historically significant — it’s the game that established the free-roam 3D open-world template nearly every subsequent open-world game, including GTA 6, still builds on. See our full GTA release timeline for the bigger picture.
Quick Facts Recap
- Best way to play on Xbox Series S/X: GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition (2021)
- Original release: 2001
- Historical significance: Defined the modern 3D open-world genre template