GTA: Chinatown Wars for PSP

By Robert Purchese Published 22 June, 2009

In Europe and US this autumn.

Rockstar Games has announced a PSP version of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. The game will be released in Europe and the US this autumn.

Rockstar Leeds will develop, and focus on the strengths of the handheld; widescreen support, better lighting, animation and all-new story missions.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars earned top marks on DS back in March, although retail reception was tame.

Head over to our Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars DS review to find out more.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (40) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Widge #1 3 years ago

    Ooh, I'll have some of that then.

  • DanC89 #2 3 years ago

    Interesting, I've not played the DS version but was the touch screen used quite well/will it be missed? Never really warmed to the other PSP GTA's.

  • DFawkes #3 3 years ago

    As long as the touch screen stuff isn't just replaced with QTEs, should be good. An online mode without Nintendos Friend Codes restraints (even for an 18) should be excellent too.

  • Eraser #4 3 years ago

    I don't really think the touchscreen will be missed. It was used for a few mini-game type of things like breaking locks, hot-wiring cars, setting tattoos, rubbing scratch cards and things like that. While it was a cute addition, it's easily replacable with something more suitable for buttons.

  • YobRenoops #5 3 years ago

    Excellent. I'm looking forward to this as I'm getting a PSP-3000 next week!

  • TheTingler #6 3 years ago

    Yes, agree with Eraser. Won't be missed. It is good, but will PSP owners used to the full 3D 'Stories' series want to pick up a throwback to almost another top-down version?

  • uglygamer #7 3 years ago

    No. I want a proper 3D GTA :(

  • Burkey123 #8 3 years ago

    Will this just be the DS islands in full 3D? If so, yes please.

  • Widge #9 3 years ago

    I'd give a top down version a go if it plays well. I liked Liberty City, but Vice City just didn't feel as good as a GTA should be. Felt vacant and buggy.

    Does it have to be 3D to be good?

  • Triggerhappytel #10 3 years ago

    Ooh, very interesting. I'm guessing this wasn't part of the original plan, but it has sold below expectation so R* are trying to maximise sales.

    I expect it will just use the existing top-down graphics engine, albeit tweaked like crazy to take advantage of the PSP's extra grunt. I can't see them taking the time to completely redesign the visuals and gameplay by making it full 3D.

  • breedob #11 3 years ago

    It would be good if they added some real songs on the radio stations and some voice overs as this definitely was missed in the ds version.

  • Widge #12 3 years ago

    Or at least adding in custom soundtrack perhaps...

  • breedob #13 3 years ago

    Yeah that would be good!
    Edited by 1 at 22/06/09 @ 14:39

  • jonsaan #14 3 years ago

    Great news!

  • aldo_14 #15 3 years ago

    Interesting, I've not played the DS version but was the touch screen used quite well/will it be missed? Never really warmed to the other PSP GTA's.

    I thought it was used really well to add a little extra interaction, atmosphere, etc - but it's not really essential to enjoying the game.

  • Hexagon #16 3 years ago

    So GTA: Chinatown Wars for the DS just lost its exclusivity, hm? :-(

  • DanC89 #17 3 years ago

    Might pick it up then if I'm not too busy playing GT PSP ;)

  • arials101 #18 3 years ago

    I'd rather have San Andreas Stories on the psp.
    Still interested in this though...

  • Widge #19 3 years ago

    I'm really looking forward to all the PSP stuff, the things being announced, the classic PSone stuff starting to surface... just makes me feel enthusiatic about the device.

  • Brianstorm #20 3 years ago

    Great to see the handheld buiding up momentum, the Autumn line up is looking as strong as any of the full spec. consoles, fingers crossed the games actually turn out to be worth playing.

  • Evolution #21 3 years ago

    @Burkey123

    I think the DS one is full 3d?

  • Razorus #22 3 years ago

    Wow, that's annoying. So basically a superior version to the DS one. After all that effort, time and exclusivity and originality, it's just gonna be whored off to the PSP. Thanks a fucking bunch, Rocktards.

  • BadBoyBonner #23 3 years ago

    I think this had to happen after the "relative" lacklustre sales on DS.

  • mkreku #24 3 years ago

    I wonder if it will sell better on the PSP than it did on the DS?

  • BadBoyBonner #25 3 years ago

    Evolution

    Yes it is full 3D, however everything is out of scale (purposefully) to look better on the DS screen i.e. the people are about 3 meters tall relative to smaller than average cars.

  • phil.evans #26 3 years ago

    I really enjoyed this on DS and it'll be nice to see it on a slightly bigger screen. The touch screen elements were a nice err, touch...but I agree that they will not be missed.

  • jaguarwong #27 3 years ago

    I thought Chinatown Wars on DS was the best GTA since Vice City, I can see no reason at all why it shouldn't be as good, if not better, on the PSP.

    The way the wanted level worked was the best of any GTA yet and dealing drugs was, predictably, as addictive as hell.

  • ShinMegami08 #28 3 years ago

    Great news!
    Was just wondering two days ago why Rockstar isnt bringing any new game on the PSP. All the Sonyhaters would say: "PSP doesnt sell software!", but I looked on VGChartz and VC Stories has sold more than 4 million copies. Incredible!!!

    Chinatown Wars would have almost been a reason for me to buy a DS, but well... now Im really happy.

    Is it just me, or is it so, that more new games are coming out on the PSP than ever before (Assasins Creed, Persona, Tekken, Rockband, FinalFantasyDissidia, LBP, now GTA, woohoo!)? And man, just wait till the new batch of japanese games (Tales, FFXIII, etc.) get localized.

    And Sony: Give us a new GodofWar for the PSP. Chains of Olympus really rocked!
    Edited by 1 at 22/06/09 @ 16:51

  • Artemus #29 3 years ago

    Surprised Sony didn't announce this at E3 given their PSP focus.

  • bad09 #30 3 years ago

    I'd much prefer GTA SA stories TBH, nothing against CW I just never really got on with the 2D GTAs.

  • DUFFKING #31 3 years ago

    Of the PSP games I've only played VCS but found it pretty horrible to be honest. Don't know about LCS, but it just wasn't fun on a handheld. Top down should make things better.

  • raion #32 3 years ago

    well then, I demand (oh yes I do) that they take the opportunity to add the radio stations we're used to by now. they REALLY help immerse in the story (news that talk about recent missions), setting and era (talk shows and various music). I used to just hitch a ride and cruise around aimlessly listening to the hilarious talk stations. I really missed that in chinatown wars.

  • bad09 #33 3 years ago

    DUFFKING just made bad09 cry :(

    VCS is the great, although the radio is a little weak. Just a little. LCS is good to but if you hated VCS I wouldn't bother. Maybe I'm bias as a GTA nut but having (almost) last gen quality GTA on my PSP is just the mutts nuts.

    Missions are just the right length for the crapper to! :)

    Now, GTA: SAS Rockstar, when? You know it. I know it. It will happen......

  • Ryze #34 3 years ago

    As long as they've fixed the save system ala GTA IV, then this will be VERY tempting to buy.

  • Syrette #35 3 years ago

    Sounds good.

    The DS version impressed me, hopefully this will take advantage of what the PSP has to offer.

  • Widge #36 3 years ago

    LCS was better than VCS. The environment felt more alive and interesting. Plus that setting with a proper set of radio stations for the first time too. You have to get past the initial stupidly easy missions, but after that, its pretty good.

    Something felt a bit flat and empty about VCS. The turf wars were ridiculous and didn't turn out as good as imagined.

  • markypants #37 3 years ago

    So when are they going to drop an iPhone version? It's surely only a matter of time?

  • smelly #38 3 years ago

    Chinatown Wars was good (unlike gta4) - shame they released it on a system where people download games rather than buying them.

  • smelly #39 3 years ago

    An just in case you dont believe me. When they announced they only sold 80,000 copies in the first week - i went looking around torrent sites for research. I found 500,000 SEEDS for it (i'd imagine the actual number who downloaded it was much higher)

    Piracy doesnt effect anything does it?

  • NeonStorm #40 3 years ago

    would san andreas even fit on a whole umd? could cut it down i suppose.
    and chinatown wars is one of the best games i've played this year, good fit for the psp as its gameplay is more suited to a handheld than the stories games were..
    Edited by 2 at 23/06/09 @ 09:01