The success of the Grand Theft Auto franchise has reached almost mythical proportions, with the recently released fifth version of the game selling 11 million copies in its first 24 hours of being released. So it was only a matter of time before the country's most popular game found its way onto smartphones.
The game had its first iPhone iteration back in December, and has just recently found its way onto Android. The version of the game available for iPhone and Android is San Andreas, which was released back in 2004. So though the graphics might not be up to par with the current game, the more than 70 hours of gameplay promises an addictive and finger-intensive experience that could find your phone slipping out of your hand and requiring an iPhone repair.
The addictive nature of the game has been well-documented, with an Esquire article about GTA V questioning if it was the most addictive game ever made. And back in 2010, author Tom Bissel wrote a piece in which he likened playing GTA to an addictive drug in terms of the effect it had on his productivity. Once a successful author, Bissel said playing the game temporarily made him isolated and inert.
So does the smartphone version of GTA risk leaving users even more consumed by their phone? Early reviews suggest not so much, since the 2004-era graphics make for a less immersive gaming experience. Still, reviewers have said the game certainly has the addictive qualities they've come to expect from GTA. The mobile version requires a lot of hand involvement if you don't attach a separate controller, and that finger action could lead to your iPhone slipping out of your hand. If so you might need an iPhone screen repair.