Grand Theft Auto III
The ROMANOV Archive (Russian-Originated Media Archetypes & Narratives in Occidental Videogames) officially begins—exploring how Russian culture, language, and stereotypes are represented in Western video games.
Our first article examines the strange absence of Russian influence in Grand Theft Auto III. Despite its New York-inspired setting, the game features no Russian Mafia, only scattered and often inaccurate references—like FBI agents inexplicably wielding AK-47s and Cold War stereotypes on talk radio. Why did Rockstar overlook one of New York’s most significant criminal elements, and how did later games correct this?