GTA vehicle physics prototype from 1996 is recreated in JavaScript for an interactive 30th-anniversary demo

The creator of the original 2D vehicle physics prototype that informed Grand Theft Auto’s vehicle system has rebuilt it in JavaScript as an interactive “remastered” demo. The recreation shows the underlying rigid-body physics and simple car model, with modes for a car, spaceship, and brick plus toggles for barriers, gravity, and camera behavior.

The project highlights how a small weekend prototype can become a foundational mechanic in a major game franchise. It also reflects a broader trend of preserving game-development history through playable web recreations, making early design ideas easier to study and experience.