Theory: 3D Characters still exist

[The Journey]

My theory is that 3D characters still exist but it’s an alternate timeline where they are all either dead, in prison, or just civilians. The maps are also just switched around.

 
This is why there’s an obvious reference to Salvatore Leone’s mansion in Alderney but it’s abandoned and rundown. It’s why Grove Street was taken over by the Ballas by GTA V, CJ never came back to save it.

 

None of the stories happened but the characters exist either alive or dead. All of the protagonists are dead by 2008.

[Nico]

I wouldn't consider the abandoned mansion north of Alderney an "obvious" reference to Salvatore. There's other abandoned or run down properties over there, like Bucky Sligo's safehouse or the casino where the big shootout of the final mission (regardless of the choice) takes place.

 

GTA V did have some obvious references to San Andreas though, but honestly I see them as mere fan service more than anything, since the game was precisely trying to recapture the fans of the series who were dissappointed by GTA IV. Those gang members running in bikes, or Grove Street as you mentioned (but oddly owned by Ballas). The HD era is a complete different entity and it's entirely separate from the events of prior games. They might try to make lighthearted references to the old games (since they were the ones that put the series on the world stage) but it doesn't imply or confirm anything about their existence. Same thing might happen in GTA VI, it will surely have some easter eggs referencing Vice City or Vice City Stories even. But again, it shouldn't be overthought too much.

[cant remember]

Whichever GTA you're playing, all of the characters from all universes co-exist in your heart and that's the important part.

[The Journey]

2 hours ago, Nico said:

I wouldn't consider the abandoned mansion north of Alderney an "obvious" reference to Salvatore. There's other abandoned or run down properties over there, like Bucky Sligo's safehouse or the casino where the big shootout of the final mission (regardless of the choice) takes place.

 

GTA V did have some obvious references to San Andreas though, but honestly I see them as mere fan service more than anything, since the game was precisely trying to recapture the fans of the series who were dissappointed by GTA IV. Those gang members running in bikes, or Grove Street as you mentioned (but oddly owned by Ballas). The HD era is a complete different entity and it's entirely separate from the events of prior games. They might try to make lighthearted references to the old games (since they were the ones that put the series on the world stage) but it doesn't imply or confirm anything about their existence. Same thing might happen in GTA VI, it will surely have some easter eggs referencing Vice City or Vice City Stories even. But again, it shouldn't be overthought too much.

A lot of people who play GTA 4 know it as “Salvatore’s Mansion” because of the layout and the fact that it’s up a long driveway and on a hill facing a cliff.

 

Either way my real idea is that every GTA took place but exaggerated and obv locations retconned (like Liberty City being flipped), but I still think every 3D era protagonist is dead before 2008.

 

I rather think of them just as “eras” after the numbered games instead of “universes” if that makes sense, so you have the III/Trilogy + Stories era (III/VC/SA + LC/VC Stories), IV + Episodes era (IV/TLAD/TBOGT) and V + Online era.

Edited March 3, 2024 by The Journey

[Prasdana21]

In a way, I'd like to think some 3D characters do exist in the HD universe as other characters. I'll go with the protagonists only.

 

1. Claude: Claude could be a GTA Online Protagonist. They don't talk.

 

2. Tommy Vercetti: GTA VI is set in Vice City so there could be a character similar to Tommy or even a name dropped/easter egg, etc, etc, but until then, I'd like to think Tommy exists in the HD Universe as Sammy Bottino as he wanted for a murder in Vice City and now he's apparently in jail. So in this universe, Tommy (Sammy Bottino) had a reserved fate compared to his 3D counterpart as he went to Vice City first before went to the prison. We knew Tommy spent 15 years in the prison before he went to Vice City.

 

3. Toni Cipriani: Due to his loyalty to his boss (Jon Gravelli), I'd like to think Toni Cipriani is Jon Gravelli's henchman  that was always protected and looked after Jon in the hospital. It's possible Toni would be Sammy Bottino too because Sammy was hiding just like Toni Cipriani did, but for now, I think the unnamed henchman is Toni Cipriani HD Universe Version.

 

4. Carl Johnson: I think the obvious one is CJ as the Fruntalot guy. Maybe in the HD Universe, CJ never returned to Los Santos and keeps living in Liberty City and either found Fruntalot or at least being a (successful) model. Or just a rich guy in general. Franklin and Lamar mentioned it in the Hood Safari that that Grove Street was The Families' former territory and that the members could be either dead or their had become CEOs.

 

5. Victor Vance: It's possible Vic is Mr. Lopez (Luis' Father) So in the HD Universe, Vic is always in the military (being a Marine in the HD Universe). He moved to Liberty City to start a family with Luis' Mother before he left his family.

 

Less of theories and more of a (personal) headcanon I suppose but I'm trying to contribute to this topic as I always like the "separate or same universes" topics, lol.

[The Journey]

6 hours ago, Prasdana21 said:

In a way, I'd like to think some 3D characters do exist in the HD universe as other characters. I'll go with the protagonists only.

 

1. Claude: Claude could be a GTA Online Protagonist. They don't talk.

 

2. Tommy Vercetti: GTA VI is set in Vice City so there could be a character similar to Tommy or even a name dropped/easter egg, etc, etc, but until then, I'd like to think Tommy exists in the HD Universe as Sammy Bottino as he wanted for a murder in Vice City and now he's apparently in jail. So in this universe, Tommy (Sammy Bottino) had a reserved fate compared to his 3D counterpart as he went to Vice City first before went to the prison. We knew Tommy spent 15 years in the prison before he went to Vice City.

 

3. Toni Cipriani: Due to his loyalty to his boss (Jon Gravelli), I'd like to think Toni Cipriani is Jon Gravelli's henchman  that was always protected and looked after Jon in the hospital. It's possible Toni would be Sammy Bottino too because Sammy was hiding just like Toni Cipriani did, but for now, I think the unnamed henchman is Toni Cipriani HD Universe Version.

 

4. Carl Johnson: I think the obvious one is CJ as the Fruntalot guy. Maybe in the HD Universe, CJ never returned to Los Santos and keeps living in Liberty City and either found Fruntalot or at least being a (successful) model. Or just a rich guy in general. Franklin and Lamar mentioned it in the Hood Safari that that Grove Street was The Families' former territory and that the members could be either dead or their had become CEOs.

 

5. Victor Vance: It's possible Vic is Mr. Lopez (Luis' Father) So in the HD Universe, Vic is always in the military (being a Marine in the HD Universe). He moved to Liberty City to start a family with Luis' Mother before he left his family.

 

Less of theories and more of a (personal) headcanon I suppose but I'm trying to contribute to this topic as I always like the "separate or same universes" topics, lol.

I like this, except I think Ray Boccino is more fitting for Toni Cipriani.

 

Niko also works for Claude, their main purpose is revenge.

 

Side character I know but Lamar is basically a mix of Big Smoke and Ryder without the betrayal. 

Edited March 6, 2024 by The Journey

[Prasdana21]

4 hours ago, The Journey said:

I like this, except I think Ray Boccino is more fitting for Toni Cipriani.

 

Niko also works for Claude, their main purpose is revenge.

 

Side character I know but Lamar is basically a mix of Big Smoke and Ryder without the betrayal. 

 

I like these too 

 

Toni Cipriani as Ray Boccino (or Boccino as Cipriani lol) as well as Niko as Claude (or Claude as Niko lol) works as well.

 

Lamar is definitely a mix of Big Smoke and Ryder without the betrayal. I agree. Maybe leaning towards Ryder.

 

EDIT: Furthermore with Toni Cipriani and Ray Boccino, they also are owners of restaurants. Maybe Toni's Mother owns it but you get what I mean, lol.

Edited March 6, 2024 by Prasdana21

[The Journey]

17 hours ago, Prasdana21 said:

 

I like these too 

 

Toni Cipriani as Ray Boccino (or Boccino as Cipriani lol) as well as Niko as Claude (or Claude as Niko lol) works as well.

 

Lamar is definitely a mix of Big Smoke and Ryder without the betrayal. I agree. Maybe leaning towards Ryder.

 

EDIT: Furthermore with Toni Cipriani and Ray Boccino, they also are owners of restaurants. Maybe Toni's Mother owns it but you get what I mean, lol.

All we need is GTA 4’s Liberty City Stories set three years earlier in 2005 with Ray as the main character and it’s complete 

Edited March 6, 2024 by The Journey

[Prasdana21]

1 hour ago, The Journey said:

All we need is GTA 4’s Liberty City Stories set three years earlier in 2005 with Ray as the main character and it’s complete 

 

Pretty much so xD