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Former Rockstar Vice President Dan Houser recently revealed that the iconic visual style of the Grand Theft Auto series emerged from a last-minute redesign following the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. The original cover art for Grand Theft Auto 3, which featured burning buildings, was deemed too offensive for release in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
To replace the original imagery, artist Stephen Bliss created the now-famous panelled cover art in approximately two evenings. This shift established the distinctive aesthetic of shards and squares that has defined the franchise's box art for 25 years, continuing through to the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6.
Beyond the packaging, Houser noted that the development team made specific content adjustments to the game, which is set in a fictionalized New York City. These changes included altering police car colors to avoid direct resemblance to the NYPD, modifying flight paths to prevent planes from appearing to strike skyscrapers, and removing a mission that referenced terrorists.
These modifications necessitated a delay in the game's launch from October 3, 2001, to October 22, 2001. Despite the pressure of this timeline and Take-Two's precarious economic state at the time, the title became a sustained commercial success, selling consistently from its release through early 2002.
