Updated story: A tracklisting provided by Rockstar omitted some of the songs on GTA's radio stations. This story has since been corrected.
A question that's been on our minds since the announcement of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition is whether the radio stations will have all the same songs as the original versions did. Grand Theft Auto 4 already lost some of its songs due to music licences expiring, so how will the older games fare?
Rockstar has confirmed the GTA Trilogy will have the same radio stations as the "most recent release" of the games. "With more than 200 songs across 29 pioneering radio stations the series has become known for, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition's iconic listings match the most recent release of the original versions (from 2014) – with no new changes," Rockstar said.
What that means is songs that were already absent from the mobile ports remain absent in the Definitive Edition. However, a tracklist provided by Rockstar includes Critical Beatdown by Ultramagnetic MCs, which had been removed from the previous re-release of GTA: San Andreas, so at least one track has returned.
Here's a list of songs that were removed from the GTA Trilogy's radio stations.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force - Looking for the Perfect Beat
- Herbie Hancock - Rockit
- Irakere - Añunga Ñunga
- Kate Bush - Wow
- Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
- Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
- Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon
- Tyrone Brunson - The Smurf
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- 2Pac (ft. Pogo) - I Don't Give a Fuck
- The Blackbyrds - Rock Creek Park
- Black Harmony - Don't Let It Go to Your Head
- Blood Sisters - Ring My Bell
- Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself
- Fatback Band - Yum Yum (Gimme Some)
- Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me
- James Brown - Funky President (People It's Bad)
- James Brown - The Payback
- The JB's - The Grunt
- Joe Cocker - Woman to Woman
- N.W.A. - Express Yourself
- Ozzy Osbourne - Hellraiser
- Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name
- Roy Ayers - Running Away
- Tom Petty - Runnin' Down a Dream
Those songs that remain can be heard at higher fidelity, Rockstar notes: "In addition to higher quality audio at 16bit 44hrz for all the source music from the stations as well as original ambient effects, players will also be able to experience the game in 5.1 Surround Sound."
Grand Theft Auto's radio stations seem like essential parts of the series, but they almost didn't make it into the first game, with the sound department having to fight for their inclusion.
