Sony’s desperately short-lived PS2-to-PS4 programme was strongly supported by Rockstar, and a couple of years ago it looked like it was set to complete its Grand Theft Auto pentalogy by deploying PlayStation Portable ports Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories on Sony’s current-gen console. However, they never released.
Around three years ago it was widely reported by a range of different websites that the two titles had been rated for release on the PlayStation 4 by classifications board ESRB, alongside Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne and Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition. None of the games ever arrived, though, and it looks like they were rapidly removed from US ratings board’s website.
GTA: Liberty City Stories and GTA: Vice City Stories are both listed for the PS3, PS2, and PSP – but there’s no mention of the PS4 anymore, and apparently there hasn’t been for years. The same is true of Max Payne 2 and Midnight Club 3. So what happened? Was this all just an error by the ESRB that got picked up and shared around the web?
Well, the last game to release as part of the PS2-to-PS4 programme was a King of Fighters collection in 2018, suggesting that it’s no longer supported by Sony. Rockstar did release a bundle featuring five of its titles in 2017, but this was its last activity on the service. Our guess is that it did plan to release the abovementioned titles, before PlayStation pulled the plug on the initiative.
You can still play both GTA: Liberty City Stories and GTA: Vice City Stories on the PS3, but these ports don’t include Trophies. It’s a shame that Sony did such a shoddy job of bringing these classic releases to its current-gen console, because there were so many PS2 games we’d have absolutely loved to revisit. If nothing else, at least enjoy that Phil Collins cameo on YouTube.
Comments 29
Because why cannibalise your own franchise! Rockstar clearly couldn’t care less about most of their fans as long as they can continue with gta 5 they will.
I wouldn't be surprised if the soundtrack licence had so much that expired they just weren't able to port them over without having blank radio the whole time.
The way Rockstar change their Radio line up with ports and releases is why I still have my GTA 4 game in PS3 pre patch in order to not have Bowie removed.
Sony need to do much better with these type of things. Imagine if day one on PS5 they said PS Now has the majority of PS One and PS2 classics on the service?
Maybe Rockstar will get desperate for money and release the “3D Collection” with every game from III to VCS built into one. Ignoring the soundtrack omissions, one might actually enjoy this.
Yeah it does seem a bit odd. They haven't brought them to PC either which is strange seeing as they even set up their own storefront there.
Bit of a shame as they're solid games.
Gta vice city stories and liberty city stories was the best games on psp.i play those games so much and beat it a lot.the lance vance dance.haha.gta the g.o.a.t crown.word up son
I loved that PS2-PS4 program, think I own almost all the rockstar games. Sony’s fickle commitment to initiatives like this is what has driven me to competitions platforms over the last year.
@playstation1995 Surely your favourite PSP games were Ghost of Sparta and Chains of Olympus!
@pip_muzz. I say my second.gta was so fun the 1990s and 1980s was amazing.word up son
Sure I would love both games for PS4, not like I got anything else to look forward to from Rockstar till the end of next gen 🤷
I'm so glad yall wrote up this article. I've been dumbfounded for years as to why they stop doing this. I was having a blast going back and replaying the old titles and earning trophies at the same time. It really irritates me they stopped this. I have a feeling though that it had something to do with the cry babies wanting to be able to use there ancient PS2 disc.
GTA LCS although not perfect,was still far more playable than GTA 3's more primitive mechanics,(hated how you got blasted passing thru old save points). But GTA VCS,had a superb soundtrack,very close behind Vice City's & the DJ chatter too.
Would've definitely bought 'em,but as other's have said,Take-two's cheapness in not renewing all the original soundtrack even in the likes of Vice City & SA,is a real sore point!
Like Sammy mentioned,the ps2 emulator was sadly underused/ developed by Sony. Even putting aside rockstar's titles, other games I'd loved to have seen would've been the Capcom Collection vol. 1 or 2....whichever ones had the G'n'G games, Maximo & Maximo Army of Zin...heck even some of EA's old games like NFS Underground 1 & 2,SSX Tricky...
Yep,we deserved better.
Now you've reminded me of my ps1/ps2 classics on ps3....still have to replay Suikoden 1 & 2!! And I owned VCS on ps3,but heard the emulation was a bit average.
@Ken_Kaniff doubt it, it never stopped them from selling PS1/PS2 games on the PS3.
Although MS did up the ante when they not only started their BC initiative, but told everyone if they had their disks they could play the new versions for free.
Still think a more likely possibility is the program got in the way of selling PSNow.
I've been waiting for a Liberty City Stories port almost as long as I've been waiting to get into a deathmatch on GTA V Online
The same thing happened to Ape Escape 3 sadly.
Plain and simple. Sony was charging just way too much for pretty much just trophy support with no cross-buy between PS3 and PS4. In terms of software compatibility between generations, Microsoft is on a whole different level. Their hardware guys know what they're doing ever since Philly boy took over.
@pip_muzz
Liberty City Stories has very few licensed songs in it, of course Vice City Stories is another matter.
So... there's no news then, is there? You offer no official nor definitive answer to the question you pose in the headline. Certainly nothing news-worthy. It's just more speculation and a little rehashing of broadly known information/details.
Solid reporting, through and through.
They should have... the PAL version of Vice City Stories on PS3 is 50Hz and pretty poor. I probably would have bought it again just for a decent 60Hz PS4 version. The PAL PS2 PS4 releases were pretty messed up at launch though, Vice City and San Andreas were released initially as a 50Hz versions forced into 60Hz, resulting in 25fps and bad frame pacing. They patched them later, but San Andreas still has sound glitches and a weird visual 'grid' over the screen. Overall, PS2 on PS4 was a poor show for PAL gamers.
@Tharsman How did it get in the way of PS Now? If they were to of moved that initiative and said all PS2 games will now be exclusive to PS Now I would have bought it immediately just for that.
@playstation1995 Vice City Stories is such a great game, still play it on my Vita.
Tsk, never really liked them anyway. The graphics were just weird, if it woulda looked better on PS4 then yea I'd consider.
I am still waiting for 'Agent' for the PS3 from Rockstar I do HATE when game companies don't bring out what they say they will bring out :-/ Oh well.
@Ristar24. Yes its a amazing game.i beat vice city stories a lot.the 1980s setting is legendary.the lance dance.i miss the 1980s and 1990s.word up son
@playstation1995 Yep, with there, great times to live through!
Remasters of both on PS4 would be great even after such a long wait.
My big interest is with LCS which i find more fun and overall superior to GTA 3 except for the graphics. My comparisons are from play on a PS2.
I didn't really enjoy them anyway, the graphics were weird. Maybe I'd consider them at 1080p on PS4.
@Robocod do you still use your PS3 account? They removed vice city stories and I’ve been wanting to play it.
@Benny504 Wow,old thread!!😅 Still have my PS3, though think the last I fired it up for the likes or Renegade Ops,or Beyond Good & Evil HD, or maybe one of the ps1 classics ala Blood Omen Legacy of Kain?🤔
Bought GTA Vice City,SA & VCS back when they used to have sales on the ps3 store,but when I re-bought VC/SA on ps4,I focused on those versions much as I disliked the cut content of the ps2 originals! (Now the irony being the "definitive edition remaster" on ps4/5 feels anything but,with the missing soundtracks).
Can't recall too much how Vice City Stories ran on the ps3 emulation...I'd imagine trying to track down a ps2 or a whiz bang PC running an emulator might run it better,but my pc nowhere near up to that sort of thing.
Its a shame Take-two/Rockstar,(& Sony with relation to ps1/2/3 era games),are so live services focused, they farmed off the GTA Trilogy remaster duties to Grove Street Games,& treat their back catalogue as little more than a cash grab afterthought.🤔
The PC modding community showed what sensible upgrades could be done retaining the old style. Unfortunately Take-two just want to obliterate anyone exposing the poor efforts they have put in from the internet with legal takedowns! 😕
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