2 weeks ago
Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:56pm PST
Ask HN: Do many people know that Grand Theft Auto is Commodore's biggest legacy?
When you think of Commodore computers, you probably imagine the C64, Amiga, or the golden age of 80s home computing. Most people don’t realize that Commodore’s most visible legacy is Grand Theft Auto.

Here’s the connection:

* Many of the developers who eventually made GTA cut their teeth on Commodore machines, learning to optimize code, simulate AI, and push hardware limits.

* Lemmings, one of their early hits on the Amiga, gave the team the money, skills, and confidence to take bigger creative risks.

* That experience directly fed into the creation of GTA, a franchise that now earns billions and dominates gaming culture worldwide.

Is this something many people know?

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