Ethan Crossfield 
A new fan-made project is giving the New Nintendo 3DS family an unofficial collection of three classic Grand Theft Auto games. The reGTA Collection adapts Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories for compatible newer-model handhelds. The project is planned for release in early October, but it is not a conventional Nintendo or Rockstar launch: players must build the ports themselves and provide their own game data.
What changed for GTA on Nintendo 3DS?
The Nintendo 3DS never received a native mainline 3D-era Grand Theft Auto game, despite earlier handheld appearances from Grand Theft Auto Advance on Game Boy Advance and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars on Nintendo DS. The reGTA Collection, created by modder EpicReds0817, unofficially fills that gap with ports based on the reverse-engineered re3, reVC, and reStories projects.
These versions are designed around the handheld rather than simply displayed on it. Each game has a dedicated lower-screen interface, touch controls, Nintendo-style button prompts, and a touchscreen keyboard for entering cheats. The collection also includes game-specific fixes and improvements intended to make the older open-world titles work more naturally on the dual-screen system.
Which players can use the collection?
The ports support New Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL, and New Nintendo 2DS XL systems. The original 3DS, 3DS XL, and 2DS models are excluded because the project depends on the newer hardware's faster CPU and additional memory.
This is also a homebrew project, so it requires more preparation than a standard digital release. The repository does not provide Rockstar's original assets, finished executables, or the complete development toolchain. Users need a compatible homebrew-capable system, legally obtained copies or data from the relevant games, and the technical ability to prepare each port themselves.
What to expect from Liberty City Stories
The most technically notable part of the collection may be Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. Unlike GTA 3 and Vice City, which already had relatively mature reverse-engineered foundations, the PSP-era title required more work because its related project had remained unfinished.
EpicReds0817 has the full main story running on physical New Nintendo 3DS hardware. However, not every side mission or optional activity has been verified, so players should treat the port as an ambitious work in progress rather than a fully documented replacement for the original release. The Liberty City Stories version uses converted PS2 game data supplied by the user and does not distribute Rockstar's assets.
What players should know
- The collection includes GTA 3, Vice City, and Liberty City Stories.
- It is planned for early October, but the source does not specify a year.
- Only New Nintendo 3DS-family hardware is supported.
- The project is unofficial and has no stated Rockstar Games or Take-Two involvement.
- Players must supply their own game data and prepare the ports themselves.
- Liberty City Stories has its main story running, while some optional content remains unverified.
Expert View
The reGTA Collection is a compelling showcase for New Nintendo 3DS homebrew, particularly because it brings three substantial 3D-era games to hardware that never officially hosted them. Its limits matter: compatibility is restricted, installation requires technical work, and Liberty City Stories still has unverified content. For curious owners with the necessary hardware and game data, it is worth following; players seeking a polished plug-and-play release should wait for clearer completion and installation details.
