‘Neighborhood-based relay recreation’ is not one thing I would instantly affiliate with Grand Theft Auto. It is simply not very gangster, is it? It hardly evokes Trevor Phillips forcibly eradicating a hostage’s enamel with pliers, nor does it replicate Niko Belic delivering harvested organs to the Black Market. After I consider the broader GTA timeline, I image Tommy Vercetti storming Ricardo Diaz’s Vice Metropolis mansion, leaving him in a bullet-strewn pool of his blood; and Carl Johnson murdering his strategy to the highest of San Andreas’ gangland underworld.
I do not instantly consider a non-real-time model of multiplayer the place gamers take it in turns to progress a single save file, backwards and forwards, spherical after spherical, till every recreation hits 100% completion. That’s precisely what the GTA Chain Recreation is all about, due to this fact this community-based relay recreation, in precise reality, brushes up towards all the above—one thing it is now been doing for a number of years, now throughout a number of Grand Theft Auto classics.
“It’s loopy to us,” says GTAKid, the Chain Recreation’s long-serving commander-in-chief, “to suppose that we’re nonetheless getting in 2026.
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“We’re very conscious of the growing age of the video games we play and know that whereas many people regard these video games as a few of the best of all time, discovering and sustaining an energetic participant base may be tough. We couldn’t be extra appreciative that in 2026 we’re persevering with to welcome new gamers to our neighborhood.”
Assisted residing
After I first spoke to GTAKid in regards to the Chain Recreation for PC Gamer’s sister website GamesRadar+ again in 2021, the neighborhood was within the throes of 100%-ing Grand Theft Auto 3. On the time, the GTA Trilogy—Definitive Version was simply across the nook, as was the Dr Dre-starring The Contract replace for GTA On-line. GTA 6 was however an everlasting spec on the horizon, and we have been years away from the leaks, the show-stopping Tom Petty trailer, and the string of delays which have since marked the incoming crime sim sequence entry’s lengthy, lengthy highway.
Within the meantime, mastering every thing that is come earlier than is the Chain Recreation’s pure focus—however how vital conserving issues easy within the midst of this course of must be, graduating to video games with extra transferring components poses its personal challenges. Most just lately, for instance, GTAKid and co. have taken to the graffitied streets of GTA 4.
“It’s been nice enjoyable being again in Liberty Metropolis,” says GTAKid. “GTA 4 has at all times been a favorite of mine and it has actually grown in recognition with our neighborhood through the years. The fantastic thing about taking part in via the extra trendy video games is that they’re feature-packed and add a variety of alternative—it implies that no two rounds we play are the identical. Since we final spoke, we now additionally play via Episodes From Liberty Metropolis, and it has been nice to replay these tales too.
“Trying on the larger image, what began as a easy save passing train is now a world neighborhood taking part in a number of video games, internet hosting on-line occasions, and sharing conversations. Behind the scenes myself and fellow workforce members TubewayArmy and Stahli run a extra structured operation to make sure the rounds hold operating, however on the core of the Chain Recreation stays the identical neighborhood spirit. In the end we couldn’t do what we do if it wasn’t for our unimaginable neighborhood and so they stay the guts and focus of every thing we plan.”
My very own involvement within the Chain Recreation has at all times been as an at-a-distance observer, viewing it from the surface trying in and admiring the dedication and dedication required to push video games which can be years, typically a long time, previous to their limits.
However what’s it that retains gamers coming again repeatedly and once more—is it nostalgia, is it the problem, is it the relay format itself?
“I believe it’s a mixture of all three,” GTAKid provides. “These of us a sure age have fond reminiscences of those video games from after we have been youthful and experiences we shared with our household and buddies. What higher strategy to spend your free time than taking part in a recreation you’re keen on? On the identical time, we have now welcomed extra informal gamers and people who have barely performed the video games in any respect, giving them the chance to navigate the challenges of taking part in these video games for the primary time with the assist and steerage of skilled neighborhood veterans.
“The place our relay format works greatest is that there is no such thing as a dedication—you possibly can bounce in, play a mission, and see the way it goes with out having to fret about taking part in the entire recreation your self. Each recreation brings its personal vitality too, from Vice to San Andreas to GTA 4, it’s been actually attention-grabbing to me seeing how our rounds for the fashionable video games differ from the classics.
“If you consider a recreation like Vice Metropolis, you consider a easy, extra arcade-like expertise; I’ve been in a position to slot in a fast flip earlier than leaving for work or throughout a lunch break. A recreation like GTA 4 can require a bit extra time and focus however then is usually a good alternative for a chill weekend the place you wish to sit again, loosen up, and take an extended flip. Every recreation brings one thing completely different however that’s a part of the enjoyable.”
After all, with GTA 6 now set to lastly land on consoles later this 12 months, GTAKid and his Chain Recreation neighborhood wait with baited breath. It absolutely goes with out saying that the subsequent Grand Theft Auto marks a chance to increase not simply the Chain Recreation itself into new-age Vice Metropolis, however the attain of the neighborhood itself.
How that may unfold stays to be seen, however GTAKid reckons he and his friends will benefit from the recreation on a extra informal foundation first earlier than then mapping out what a GTA 6 Chain Recreation could appear to be in dimension and scope.
He provides: “The workforce and I are actually enthusiastic about GTA 6 and there could have already been a dialog or two about what a Chain Recreation may appear to be. This time round we positively hope to place one thing collectively sooner reasonably than later, so I’m positive as soon as we’ve had the prospect to play via and full the sport ourselves, we’ll be coming collectively to debate how we make that occur.
“We have now at all times actually centered on conserving the format of the Chain Recreation so simple as doable in order that it’s adaptable to any recreation. Whereas video games have undoubtedly change into extra complicated, all we have to make it occur is a approach of getting a save file from individual to individual. So simple as which will sound, we have now encountered challenges with updates altering save file codecs and creating incompatibility between variations.
“We fortunately have to date at all times been in a position to give you an answer and I’ve to present credit score to Samutz and his website for offering us and the broader GTA neighborhood with a approach of with the ability to simply convert save information between replace variations on PC.”
Which I assume is what does, what has and what at all times will anchor the Chain Recreation for so long as it continues to exist: teamwork. It is now a genuinely worldwide operation with lots of of gamers feeding into it with various levels of dedication. Faces come and go, positive, some for longer than others, however for GTAKid on a private stage, the Chain Recreation has cast a throughline into the final decade or so of his life.
With that, comes an unbridled sense of gratitude and understanding—for the GTA Chain Recreation itself, and for different hobbyist communities within the Grand Theft Auto area and past.
“Now greater than ever, I’ve a deep appreciation for communities like ours,” says GTAKid. “By the video games I spent so a lot of my youthful years taking part in, I’ve been in a position to create numerous new reminiscences and extra importantly lifelong buddies.
“I typically take into consideration how the Chain Recreation has been the one fixed in additional than a decade of my life and the way it and the people who find themselves part of it have supported me via each good and tough occasions. I couldn’t be extra grateful to be part of one thing so particular.
“We’re in a very good place in the meanwhile and our plan for the subsequent 5 years is to continue to grow and making the Chain Recreation higher than ever. It’s set to be an thrilling 12 months for us, celebrating 100 rounds of Vice Metropolis, introducing a brand new kind of particular spherical, and maybe one thing new over on the west coast.”
Every part you should know in regards to the GTA Chain Recreation, together with the right way to become involved, lives on the Chain Recreation Lounge on GTAForums.
