How to Install Mods on GTA 3
4 March 2025
hardsham
Although the third installment of the Grand Theft Auto series is already over twenty years old, it is still popular. Often, it is launched out of nostalgia. However, over the years, the game has become noticeably outdated. You can make GTA 3 more modern with user modifications. In this article, we’ll tell you how to install them.
Installing mods using Modloader for the standard version of GTA 3
This option is suitable for the standard version of the game, which was released on PC in 2002.
- Install a clean version of GTA 3 without modifications.
- Download the mod manager called ModLoader and ASI Loader, which allows you to run script plugins.
- Unpack the archive into the game folder.
- Download the modification and copy it into the ModLoader directory.
- Launch GTA 3.
Manual installation of mods on the original PC version of GTA 3
How to install non-script modifications
- Make sure you have GTA 3 version 1.0 without modifications. Other versions, for example, may not support mods.
- Make backup copies of the files you plan to replace, as well as the data and models folders in the game directory. This way, you can quickly restore the game files without reinstalling if you want to disable mods or if they do not work.
- Download the III IMG Tool program for working with .img archives.
- Download the archive with the mod and unpack it. Remember the names of the vehicles, weapons, or other objects you are replacing.
- Launch the III IMG Tool program and specify the path to the desired directory, for example, Models. We will talk more about them in the next section.
- Open the GTA3.IMG file. It contains models of vehicles, weapons, buildings, ped skins (pedestrians and gang members), and items on the surface of the map. If you need to install a mod that replaces items from game interiors, you need to look for them in GTA_INT.IMG.
- Find the .dff and .txd files you want to replace by name using IMG Tool. Use the search function. Click the Edit button, then Find, and then enter the name of the car, firearm, or other game element your mod is related to (for example, "patriot.dff").
- When you find the desired file, delete it from the .img archive.
- In the Commands menu, select ADD and open the folder with the unpacked modification. Specify the modification files (.dff and .txd) that need to be added. If there is more than one, you can install them all at once by using the Shift key and selecting each one.
File types and where they are located:
- .dff and .txd — 3D models and their textures. These refer to weapons, cars, buildings, pedestrians, and map elements. They should be located in the GTA 3/models directory inside .img archives.
- .dat, .ide, and .ipl — configuration files, lists of objects on the map, and their locations. Find them in the GTA 3/data folder.
- main.scm — the main script file. You will find it at GTA 3/data/script
- .ifp — various animations. Located in the GTA 3/anim/ folder.
- .gxt — in-game text and localization. Stored in the GTA 3/text/ directory.
- .asi and .dll — plugins, which are located in the root folder of GTA 3. To use .asi files, it is important to install ASI Loader (comes bundled with CLEO).
- .cs — CLEO scripts. We will talk about them and various plugins below.
How to change car characteristics (handling settings)
Sometimes mod authors suggest changing car characteristics manually. As a rule, this refers to the handling.cfg or carcols.dat files. They can be opened with any text editor, such as the standard Notepad. If the author suggests adding a settings line, you need to find a similar one by the car's name. Delete it and add the lines specified in the description for the downloaded vehicle.
How to install script CLEO mods and plugins (.cs and .asi)
- Download the CLEO library and run the installer. You will need to specify the game folder. By default, it is installed at — C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\GTA 3 .
- Download the archive with the modification and unpack it.
- Copy the contents of the CLEO mod (.cs) into the CLEO folder, which is located in the game directory. If there is no such folder, create it. Installation of (.asi) plugins is done directly into the root folder of the game.
- Launch GTA 3.
Manual installation of mods for the remaster GTA 3: The Definitive Edition
This method will be useful for those who are going to modify the remaster of GTA 3 from the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy — The Definitive Edition collection.
- Download the archive with the mod and unpack it.
- Open the folder GTA III — Definitive Edition\Gameface\Content\Paks\ and create a ~mods directory. If you already have it, skip this step.
- Copy the modification files into the ~mods folder.
- Launch the game.
Please note that mods for Vice City and San Andreas are often not compatible with GTA 3.
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