SilentPatch
Fixes dozens of issues in the original port — crashes on modern Windows, incorrect timing and broken effects — and adds minor improvements.
Requires: ASI loader (included with Widescreen Fix)
Download from the author →
Mods for GTA III: a stable foundation and the right installation order
The original 2002 PC version crashes on modern computers, stretches the picture and lacks proper controller support. Eight tools from verified authors fix these issues — if you install them in the right order.
First, find out which version you have
Everything below applies to the classic PC version (disc, Steam, Rockstar Games Launcher). Trilogy Definitive Edition is a different game built on Unreal Engine 4: classic ASI plugins and CLEO do not work with it and may damage the installation. It has a separate section below.
Essential package for the classic version
Listed in installation order. Links go directly to the authors.
GTA III Widescreen Fix
Provides a correct widescreen picture: aspect ratio, HUD, field of view and black bars in cutscenes. It includes the ASI loader required by other plugins.
Requires: nothing else
Download from the author →SkyGfx
Restores PlayStation 2 or Xbox graphics — colours, motion blur, shadows and fog as they appeared on console.
Requires: ASI loader
Download from the author →III.Project2DFX
Adds thousands of distant street and window lights plus a longer draw distance. Liberty City no longer looks like a dark box at night.
Requires: ASI loader
Download from the author →GInput
Full Xbox and PlayStation controller support through XInput, including analogue triggers and vibration. The original controller support is very limited.
Requires: nothing else
Download from the author →VBDec
Plays music and sounds in the PS2 format without conversion — for those who want the console audio.
Requires: ASI loader; optional
Download from the author →GTA Mod Loader
Places content mods (cars, textures and models) in their own folder instead of overwriting the game's archives. Remove a mod by deleting its folder.
Requires: ASI loader
Download from the author →CLEO for III
A library for script mods (.cs). Install it last and only for a game version supported by the library.
Requires: the classic game version
Download from the author →Installation step by step
From a clean game to a complete package
- 1
Back up the game and saved games
Copy the entire game folder and the GTA3 User Files folder in Documents. If something goes wrong, you can restore them in a minute instead of reinstalling.
- 2
Install SilentPatch
Extract the archive contents into the main game folder, where gta3.exe is located. Only a stable game is worth modding further.
- 3
Add Widescreen Fix
Extract it into the main folder. It adds the ASI loader and the scripts folder for plugins. You will find the settings in the .ini file in the same folder.
- 4
Graphics: SkyGfx and Project2DFX
Place the .asi, .ini and .dat files in the scripts folder. Launch the game after each plugin — if something stops working, you will immediately know which one caused it.
- 5
Controller support through GInput
Extract it into the main folder. If you play through Steam, disable Steam Input for the game or the controls will register twice.
- 6
Content mods through Mod Loader
After installing Mod Loader, place every mod in its own subfolder inside the modloader folder. The original game archives will remain untouched.
- 7
CLEO and scripts last
Script mods are the most common cause of crashes and corrupted saved games. Add them one at a time and keep a backup of your saved game.
Definitive Edition: different rules
The GTA III included in Trilogy Definitive Edition runs on Unreal Engine 4. Nothing from the package above belongs in it. It has its own tools:
GTA III DE Fusion Fix
Fixes and improvements for GTA III: The Definitive Edition from the author of Widescreen Fix.
Download from the author →CLEO Redux
A scripting environment that supports Trilogy Definitive Edition as well as the classic GTA III 1.0.
Download from the author →When it does not work
The most common problems after installation
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| The game crashes immediately after launch | Two ASI loaders at once (for example, dinput8.dll and ddraw.dll from different packages), or a plugin intended for another game version. | Keep only one loader. Then restore the plugins one at a time until you find the faulty one. |
| The HUD is stretched or off-screen | Widescreen Fix is missing or did not load. | Check that the files are in the scripts folder and that the ASI loader is in the main game folder. |
| The controller does not respond or performs two actions at once | GInput and Steam Input, or another controller wrapper, are running together. | Disable Steam Input for GTA III and let GInput handle the controller on its own. |
| Mods do not load | You have Definitive Edition, or the files are one folder away from where they should be. | Check your game version. In the classic version, .asi files must be in scripts and content mods in modloader. |
| Corrupted saved game | A script mod added objects to the game that are missing after the mod is removed. | Restore the saved-game backup. Do not remove script mods midway through a playthrough. |
Safety
- Download only from the authors' websites — most often GitHub. Repacked ‘mega packs’ with an .exe installer are often outdated and sometimes dangerous.
- A GTA III mod does not need administrator privileges or your antivirus to be disabled. If an installer asks for either, do not continue.
- Use mods only in the single-player game. Do not buy or download the game from unofficial sources.
Frequently asked questions
Does this work with the Steam version?
Yes. SilentPatch, Widescreen Fix and the other tools in the package support the classic PC version, including the Steam and Rockstar Games Launcher releases. Definitive Edition is the exception.
Do I have to install all eight tools?
No. SilentPatch and Widescreen Fix are the foundation — we recommend them to everyone. The others are optional depending on whether you want console graphics, controller support or content mods.
Why is re3 not included?
The open-source reimplementation re3 was taken down at Take-Two's request, and new versions are not legally available. We link only to tools that modify your own copy of the game.
How do I uninstall a mod?
Delete a plugin from the scripts folder and a content mod from modloader. If you made a backup in the first step, you can return to a clean game at any time.
Modding Vice City too?
Vice City runs on the same engine, and most tools have a version for it as well. The detailed procedure is on the Vice City mods page.
Mods for Vice City →