Character Changes
This page documents characters in Grand Theft Auto games who were remodelled, renamed or removed before their respective games were released. Evidence of the changes is often found within the game files or in prerelease information.
Deleted Characters
These are characters that were planned to be in the game, but were removed during development. Models and dialogue that can be attributed to some of these characters can be found in the files of their respective games.
GTA III
A hobo who was to give the protagonist missions involving bringing down the city's infrastructure. He and his missions were removed from the final game (believed by many to be due to the 9/11 attacks), but his model remains in the game files, and his voice actor is named in the game's credits.
A character removed for unknown reasons. Like Darkel, his voice actor is named in the game's credits.
The model for this character, believed to be based on Tom Novy, can be found in the game's files. His purpose is unknown.
The model for a butler who doesn't appear in the final game can be found in the game's files.
- Children and Elders with walkers
Early previews of the game implied that these two groups of pedestrians were to feature in GTA III. No evidence of their existence can be found in the game's files, suggesting they were removed early on in development.
GTA Vice City
Dialogue in the game's text files suggests that this character was to give the protagonist a mission. He apparantly knew Tommy before the events of the game.
GTA San Andreas
An LSPD officer who was to be killed in the mission Doberman for attempting to bring down C.R.A.S.H.
A character who the protagonist was to rescue from Officer Carver.
An LVPD motor officer who had dialogue removed from the mission Cop Wheels.
GTA IV
Alberga was a mobster cut during the development of GTA IV. Possibly, this was the beta name of Ray Boccino.
Remodelled Characters
These are characters that were remodelled during development ranging from protagonists to pedestrians.
GTA III
- Claude's appearance went through many different designs, as seen through various early sketches and screenshots.
- The Portland Triads originally had a black outfit.
- Police officers originally had mustaches.
GTA Vice City
- Tommy Vercetti was older, fatter and wore a blue Hawaiian shirt.
- Haitian gangsters who wore blue shirts used to have a picture on their shirt instead of the word "Relax".
GTA San Andreas
- Sweet was originally dressed in black and wore a black beanie.
- Big Smoke wore a white jersey and did not wear a hat, exposing his shaved head.
- Kendl Johnson's facial model and clothing were altered.
- Gang members looked different and wore different clothing.
- Each city had its own motorcycle cop model; whereas in the final release the same model is used for all cities (the beta cop models can still be found on the game's files).
GTA Liberty City Stories
- Joseph Daniel O'Toole's glasses were originally blue.
- Toni Cipriani originally looked older.
- Toni's casual clothes were a purple shirt with a green vest.
GTA Vice City Stories
- Bryan Forbes originally had a mustache.
- The Casual clothes were originally yellow.
GTA IV
- Little Jacob originally did not wear glasses.
- Michelle had a different looking face.
- Playboy X used to have a plain maroon hoodie.
- United Liberty Paper had a different voice.
- Real Badman didn't wear a hat.
- The first removed haircut design for Niko Bellic was a cut that seemed to resemble helmet-hair.
- The second removed haircut design for Niko was a buzz cut.
Beta Names
These are characters that their names have been changed for different reasons.
GTA III
| Beta Name | Current Name |
|---|---|
| Mullan | 8-Ball |
| Joey Sorvino | Joey Leone |
| Frankie Sorvino | Salvatore Leone |
GTA Vice City
| Beta Name | Current Name |
|---|---|
| BJ Jones | BJ Smith |
| Fernando Diaz | Ricardo Diaz |
GTA IV
| Beta Name | Current Name |
|---|---|
| Larry Ligner | Patrick Ligner |
GTA Chinatown Wars
| Beta Name | Current Name |
|---|---|
| Lee Leroc | Lester Leroc |
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