Grand Theft Auto III - Enhanced Edition Plus

This guide will teach you how to install a pack of mods that aims to bring all the good things about the versions of GTA III for PS2, Xbox and Mobile to your game, brings corrections of compatibility problems with current operating systems, adds support for controller with vibration and also bring optional quality of life features.

Updated in 05/12/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY), changelog here: https://pastebin.com/KrLrHzyq

About

The PC version of Grand Theft Auto III lacks many graphical effects and content that are present in the original game released for Playstation 2. This is due to bugs and creative decisions by Rockstar Games.

Enhanced Edition is a pack of mods that aims to bring to GTA III PC all this missing content present in the PS2 version, in addition to bringing the improvements present in the Xbox and mobile version, correction of compatibility problems with current operating systems, adds support for controller with vibration and more.

Unlike other versions found on the internet, this version contains even more mods and all of them are updated so they are mods that bring more improvements, are more optimized and are bug free.

There are several incredible mods for GTA III that improve the game in different aspects, but in this pack of mods I decided to only choose mods that bring improvements equal to those made by Rockstar in each version of GTA III (Xbox and Mobile). Some of these improvements are reimagined to be faithful to the PS2 version of the game.

There are some exceptions that are few mods that bring quality of life features, if you don't want them you can remove them from your game. I will teach you how later in the guide.

Sorry the guide is simple, I'm not used to writing guides

But If you found this guide helpful, please consider leaving a like.

Comparasion

Diferences between PS2 and PC versions

Comparison between PC and mobile versions

Screenshots

Original

Enhanced Edition Plus (Standard Setting, PS2 Like)

Enhanced Edition Plus (Xbox Setting, optional)

Enhanced Edition Plus (Mobile Setting, optional)

In the "Settings" guide tab you will learn how to make these optional graphical settings in your game, if you prefer the standard PS2 style configuration you don't need to make any settings.

Video

Mods list

Essentials

Patch 4 GB (Largeaddress): Makes the game recognize up to 4 GB of RAM. Prevents things like the game crashing and the map disappearing.
Ultimate Asi Loader: Makes it possible the game read .ASI mods
ModLoader: It makes it possible to install most mods without changing the original game files. making installing and uninstalling mods more easier.
Cleo: Makes the game read cleo mods.
SilentPatch: Fixes several things in the game.
Widescreen Fix: Adds true widescreen support and brings loading screens recreated in HD.
RunDLL32 Fix: Fixes the problem with RunDLL32. Furthermore, it makes the game open faster and several people have also reported fixing lag.
NoDep: Fixes the problem with DEP.
PortableGTA: Create a userfiles folder inside the game's root folder. All game settings files that were previously in the documents folder will now be stored in this folder.
Framarate Vigilante: Makes the frame limiter limit the game's frames to 60 and fixes the various high fps bugs caused by running the game at 60 fps. It is important to note that the high fps bugs have been fixed to run the game at a maximum of 60 fps. If you turn off the frame limiter, you will run the game above 60 fps so the high fps bugs will return.
CrashInfo: If your game stops working, this mod will show you a window with solutions to the problem. It also allows you to easily close the game when it stops working, without having to restart your PC.

PS2

PS2 Vehicles: Brings the car models from the PS2 version which contain fewer bugs and are more compatible with Skygfx.
PS2 Hud: Brings the color of the HUD from the PS2 version to the HD HUD .
PS2 anims: Brings the PS2 running and gun holding animations that are different compared to the PC version.

HD

HD HUD: Brings the hud in HD similar to the mobile HUD, includes the pager texture and sniper scope texture, faithful to the original game.
Mobile Radar Map: Brings the radar map in HD from the mobile version.
HD intro movie: Brings the intro video recreated in HD.
III Menu Map: Brings the game map in the pause menu, you can even mark a waypoint and it will appear on your radar.

Fixes

SkyGFX: Brings the graphic effects of the PS2 version and the Mobile version. In addition to fixing graphical bugs.
Skygfx Generic: Addon for Skygfx.
OLA: Increases game limits to support heavier modifications.
GInput: Adds full support for controllers with vibration, including showing the icon for the controllers buttons (Playstation or Xbox).
The Leftovers Fix: Reactivates the map models that are used in the PS2 version but are not used in the PC version, in addition to fixing some map bugs.
VBDec: Brings high quality audio from the PS2 version of the game.
ParticleEx: Brings high quality particle effects from the PS2 version.
EAX Alchemy Fix: Restores EAX Alchemy's high quality audio option.

Quality of life

Hud Fix: Removes the zeros in front of the amount of money counter just like in the mobile version of GTA San Andreas.
Walk Mod: It allows you to move slowly on the keyboard by holding down the Alt key, the weapon sight will disappear from the screen and will only appear if you press the right mouse button.
Sharptrails: Removes exaggerated motion blur effect from trails.

Optional

MixMods PT-BR support: Adds support for the Brazilian Portuguese language to the game, made by the modding group MixMods. This mod is optional, you decide whether you want to install it or not.

Bonus Content

Access the root folder of your GTA III and access the Bonus folder. There you will find some goodies that came in the physical version of the game:

The game map
The game poster
The game manual
The official strategy guide

Access the root folder of your GTA III and access the Icons folder. There you will find a HD icon for GTA III.

Downloads

GTA III Enhanced Edition Plus:
https://www.mediafire .com/file/grcz2h98spbubwq/III+Enhanced+Edition+Plus.rar/file

Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86 Redistributable Setup
https://www.mediafire .com/file/g2q8wcnc9ax1a1c/vcredist_x86_%2528Install_this%2529.exe/file

password: gta

Optional:

Playstation buttons:
https://www.mediafire .com/file/6pgotqylbfqvv93/III_PS_Buttons.rar/file

Tradução da MixMods para PT-BR atualizada e adaptada para esse pacote de mods:
https://www.mediafire .com/file/wgoiheeb5r5yumo/III_PT-BR.rar/file

How to install

First of all, make sure your GTA III is clean without mods so that no error or conflicts occur.

If you have any doubts, uninstall your game from Steam and access the folder of your Steam games where they are located at:

X:\Y\Steam\steamapps\common\

X: represents your drive name, and Y your folder structure.

Delete the Grand Theft Auto III folder if it still exists and then download the game again.

Access the documents folder on your computer, make a backup on your desktop of the GTA III userfiles folder because your saves and settings are saved there. After making the backup, delete the GTA III userfiles folder located in the documents folder on your computer.

After making sure your game is clean without mods, we can proceed with the installation:

Install Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86 Redistributable Setup, some mods need it to work without errors.

Your game's root folder is located at

X:\Y\Steam\steamapps\common\Grand Theft Auto III

X: represents your drive name, and Y your folder structure.

Select the III Enhanced Edition Plus.rar file and extract with Winrar (or another similar program). After extracting access the folder that was created, copy all the files and paste it in the root folder of your GTA III confirming file replacement and that's it!

Access the GTA III userfiles folder that you backed up on your desktop, copy all the files and paste them into the userfiles folder in the root folder of your GTA III.

Optional

If you want install the Playstation buttons, select the III PS buttons.rar file and extract with Winrar (or another similar program). After extracting, copy the scripts folder and paste it in the root folder of your GTA III confirming file replacement and that's it!

Se você quer instalar a tradução em PT-BR da Mixmods atualizada e adaptada para esse pacote de mods, selecione o arquivo III PT-BR.rar e extraia com o Winrar (ou outro programa similar). Após extrair, copie a pasta modloader e cole no pasta raiz do seu GTA III e pronto!

How to unistall optional mods

If you don't like these mods you can uninstall them easily.

How to unistall Hud Fix:
Access the modloader folder, access the Quality of life folder and delete the Hud Fix folder.

How to unistall Walk mod:
Access the modloader folder, access the Quality of life folder and delete the Walk Mod folder.

How to unistall Sharptrails mod:
Access the scripts folder and delete the sharptrails.asi file.

How to unistall PS2 hud mod:
Access the modloader folder, access the PS2 folder and delete the PS2 Hud folder.

Settings

Classic controls: If you are playing with a joystick and want to play with the Console style controls, activate the classic controls. On the game start screen or when pausing the game, go to options, controller setup, click on standard controls to change to classic controls.

High quality audio: To activate high quality audio, select the Creative Labs Eax 3 audio option. On the game start screen or when pausing the game, go to options, audio setup, select audio hardware and press the right arrow on the keyboard or joystick until selecting Creative Labs Eax 3 ™️. Confirm with Enter.

SkyGFX settings: The SkyGFX graphical mod is configured by default with the PS2 graphical style, but you can customize it to your liking. To customize it, access the root folder of your GTA III, access the modloader/Fixes/SkyGfx folders and open the skygfx.ini file with notepad. Here are some customization suggestions:

Xbox detailed cars reflections: Press Ctrl+F, type "carPipe" (without the quotes) and click "Find Next". Notepad will select the text "carPipe". By default, the number next to the text "carPipe" will be 0. Delete the number 0 next to "carPipe" (be careful not to delete anything else) and then type the number 1, Press Ctrl+S to save changes.

Xbox pedestrian lighting: Press Ctrl+F again, type "neoRimLightPipe" (without quotes) and click "Find Next". Notepad will select the text "neoRimLightPipe". By default, the number next to the text "neoRimLightPipe" will be 0. Delete the number 0 next to "neoRimLightPipe" (be careful not to delete anything else) and then type the number 1, Press Ctrl+S to save changes.

Mobile trails: Press Ctrl+F again, type "trailsSwitch" (without the quotes) and click "Find next". Notepad will select the text "trailsSwitch". By default, the number next to the text "trailsSwitch" will be 0. Delete the number 0 next to "trailsSwitch" (be careful not to delete anything else) and then type the number 2, Press Ctrl+S to save changes.

If you don't like the standard PS2 trails or the mobile trails, you can disable the trails in the game's graphics settings.

If you want to revert these SkyGFX settings easily and quickly just access the directory: Grand Theft Auto III\modloader\Fixes\SkyGfx\.settings\skygfx.ini backup
copy the file "skygfx.ini" and paste it into the Grand Theft Auto III\modloader\Fixes\SkyGfx\ directory confirming the replacement.

Anti-Aliasing: The game does not have official support for anti-aliasing, the Widescreen Fix mod adds anti-aliasing to the game but this causes a bug in the game's hud. This bug only happens with GTA III. By default, anti-aliasing is disabled. If you want to activate, you have three options:

Enable Anti-Aliasing through Widescreen Fix: Access the root folder of your GTA III, access the scripts folder and open the GTA3.WidescreenFix.ini file with the notepad. Press Ctrl+F, type "ForceMultisamplingLevel" (without the quotes) and click "Find Next". Notepad will select the text "ForceMultisamplingLevel". By default, the number next to the text "ForceMultisamplingLevel" will be 0. Delete the number 0 next to "ForceMultisamplingLevel" (be careful not to delete anything else) and then type "max" (without the quotes), Press Ctrl+S to save changes. Remembering that activating anti-aliasing this way will cause a bug in the hud.

Enable Anti-Aliasing through your graphics card's control panel: Open your video card's control panel and activate it there. I'm going to teach you how to activate it on Nvidia video cards because that's the one I have. Open the Nvidia control panel, go to 3d settings, go to manage 3d settings, program settings, in select programs to be customized select gta3.exe, in specify the settings for this program select Anti-Aliasing - FXAA, in configuration it will probably be off then you activate and apply the setting. This way it won't cause bugs in the hud. However, I don't know if activating anti-aliasing in this way can cause other types of graphical bugs in the game, so consider this setting as experimental. You can revert this setting at any time if it causes game graphics issues for you.

Enable Anti-Aliasing through ReShade: Download Reshade and install it in your game, selecting the DX9 API. Just downloading the standard version of Reshade and installing the standard effects with SweetFX is enough. in the game's start menu, press home, you can skip the Reshade tutorial without any problems, then select your preferred anti-aliasing. FXAA - More performance and SMAA - More quality. This way it won't cause bugs in the hud too. However, I don't know if activating anti-aliasing in this way can cause other types of graphical bugs in the game, so consider this setting as experimental. You can revert this setting at any time if it causes game graphics issues for you.

Text Shadow Outline: This Widescreen Fix mod setting makes the black outline on the subtitles, time, money and health information in the hud stay centered and also adds a white outline on the wanted level stars. Disabling this setting causes a bug in the game's hud. By default, this setting comes at level 1 in the modpack, but it is possible to change it to level 2 by increasing the outline.

If you want to increase the outline, access the root folder of your GTA III, access the scripts folder and open the GTA3.WidescreenFix.ini file with the notepad. Press Ctrl+F, type "ReplaceTextShadowWithOutline" (without the quotes) and click "Find Next". Notepad will select the text "ReplaceTextShadowWithOutline". By default, the number next to the text "ReplaceTextShadowWithOutline" will be 1. Delete the number 1 next to "ReplaceTextShadowWithOutline" (be careful not to delete anything else) and then type "2" (without the quotes), Press Ctrl+S to save changes.

If you don't like the look of this setting and want to disable it to keep the look more faithful to the original game, you can disable it. By disabling this setting, the black outline on the subtitles, time, money and health information in the HUD will be off-center and the wanted level stars will not have a white outline. But as I said, doing this will generate a bug in the game's HUD. However, activating anti-aliasing through your video card's control panel or through Reshade as I taught above makes this bug almost imperceptible. Enabling anti-aliasing through Widescreen Fix, besides causing a different bug in the HUD, makes no difference to the bug that occurs when disabling this outline setting.

To disable this outline setting, access the root folder of your GTA III, access the scripts folder and open the GTA3.WidescreenFix.ini file with the notepad. Press Ctrl+F, type "ReplaceTextShadowWithOutline" (without the quotes) and click "Find Next". Notepad will select the text "ReplaceTextShadowWithOutline". By default, the number next to the text "ReplaceTextShadowWithOutline" will be 1. Delete the number 1 next to "ReplaceTextShadowWithOutline" (be careful not to delete anything else) and then type "0" (without the quotes), Press Ctrl+S to save changes.

Warnings

Attention: It is recommended to activate the frame limiter in the game's graphics settings which will limit the fps to 60 because the game above 60 fps causes several bugs in your game.

Attention again: Now the saves, video settings, control settings and etc are saved in the game folder, inside the "userfiles" folder.

Attention once again: Inside the root folder of the game there is a .txt file called Mods, there is a list of each mod that is installed and in which folders they are located.

Attention for the last time: If you have problems with the game or if the download link is broken, please use the guide's comments to report it.

Updates

I plan to update the mod pack if any mods that are part of this mod pack are updated. The description of the guide states the last update the mod pack received. Inside your game folder there is a file called Mods.txt that tells you the date your mod package was updated. If the mod pack you have is outdated you can update it but I recommend that to update it you redo the procedure of uninstalling the game to avoid errors or conflicts occurring. But this time you will make a backup of the userfiles folder located inside the root folder of your game as this will contain your configuration files and saves. After making this backup, you can uninstall the game, delete its folder, download the game again and install the mod pack following all the steps taught in this guide.

More

I also have a guide for GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas, you can find them here:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3057109327

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3058208538

Credits

This guide was based on the Django user guide, please visit his guide and leave a review.


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=575473515

Here is credit to everyone who contributed the mods used in this mod pack, the credits are also available within the game's root folder in a .txt file:

Patch 4GB by Silent
Ultimate Asi Loader by ThirteenAG
Cleo by DK22Pac, ThirteenAG / Seemann, ALIEN
Modloader by LINK/2012 / Silent
SilentPatch by Silent / aap (The Hero), Ash_735, Blackbird88, iFarbod, mirh, Nick007J, ThirteenAG
Widescreen Fix by ThirteenAG
Rundll32 Fix by Swoorup
NoDep by Fabio
Skygfx by The Hero (aap) / ThirteenAG
Skygfx Generic by The Hero (aap) / ThirteenAG / Sergeanur
OLA by LINK/2012, ThirteenAG, Blackbird88 / aap/The Hero, DK22Pac, fastman92, maxorator, Silent, Wesser
GInput by Silent / Deji / Ash_735 / Bugbear Entertainment
The Leftovers Fix by George Costanza, _CP_, BeckermannDewitt, BEGINit, Blackbird88, EiF0hn, ermaccer, fastman92, Forever L, inadequate, Jitterdoomer, JohnnyK, Kalvin, Mr.Jago, Mugetsuga, Neo Anderson, niltwill, R4gN0r0K, Silent, SpooferJahk, TJGM, Tomasak, 5Zera. Kenji Fix by LeoShaddz
HD Hud by Xbox Mod. Weapons icons by Dingleman
Mobile Radar Map by War Drum Studios. Ripped by LeoShaddz
Hud Fix by unknown
PS2 Vehicles by Gravarty
HD movies - first intro by _AG, second intro by Grove Street Games, both intro converted by LeoShaddz
PT BR by MJay. Under Surveillance PS2 text by Mr. Kill - converted by LeoShaddz
HD icon by Anon. Colors fixed by LeoShaddz
PortableGTA by aap (The Hero)
VBDec by Silent, Sergeanur, Ash / Jéssica Natália
ParticleEx by Fire_Head
HD Manual by Rockstar Games, Rockstar North, Matthew Hill, BradyGames, Fabrix199, Piotr Aun, Jason Scott
Walk Mod by ThirteenAG
EAX Alchemy Fix by Verokster
III Menu Map by _AG
Sharptrails by TheHero (aap)
PS2 anims by kewun
PS2 Hud by Xbox Mod. Weapons icons by Dingleman
Framarate Vigilante by Junior_Djjr, ThirteenAG, HzanRsxa2959, martonp96, 0x416c69, void
CrashInfo by Junior_Djjr

Special thanks to the YouTube channels Vadim M, Streetskulls and Joeveno for the comparison videos between the versions of the game. The videos from these channels were essential to put together this updated version of this mod pack.

Special thanks also to the FilipeRamos YouTube channel who introduced me to the Enhanced Edition mod pack.

[LeoShaddz]

@stuff @David Wongstein @Serval @♥➜ℳazu†ℴ⇦♥ Hello, I tried to replicate these problems here but I couldn't. I'm sorry I can't help with this, but if you manage to resolve these issues and have other problems, just report it here and I'll try to help.

[LeoShaddz]

@DarkSynn337 Hello, As user @Cardinal mentioned, the old version of the Menu Map mod that was included in the mod pack was being detected as a virus. The most recent version of this mod is not detected as a virus, and it also brings more improvements, such as the option to view map legends that was not available in the old version. I updated the mod pack with the most recent version of this mod, sorry for the delay in doing so. And about the game not opening, I tried to replicate this problem here but I couldn't. I'm sorry I can't help with this, but if you manage to resolve these issue and have other problems, just report it here and I'll try to help.

[Pavel Kravitch]

Not using the far higher detail Xbox car models!? Sacrilege

[Striforce]

Thanks for writing this awesome guide to experience GTA III in all of its glory!

However, I'm having an issue where the opening movies are off center and are moved towards the lower left corner of the screen. Anyway I can fix this?

[Serval]

worked once and now it wont launch

[Vicky]

I think the camera lock was a problem in version 1.0 as you enter in any vehicle, but it can be fixed by SA Car Camera mod or LCS Car Camera mod.

[TheKingOfScandinavia]

Which of these mods do that incredibly annoying GTA 4 thing, of locking the camera as you enter a car?

[♥➜ℳazu†ℴ⇦♥]

The game has weird slowdons when i press either LMB or RMB, help please.

[silenthero]

David Wongstein: maybe you did the same mistake as me: installed the game, installed the mod and upon starting the game - nothing happens. GTA3.exe was in Task Manager, but no game screen, you can only kill it.

I fixed it this way: uninstall the game, empty the game folder, install the game normally, open the game one time, close the game, install the mod, start the game - voila.

[David Wongstein]

hmm, this one launches but I don't get a screen or anything.