What the Premier League was like when GTA V came out
It’s hard to believe that Grand Theft Auto V came out 13 years ago! The game quickly became a huge hit, making $1 billion in just three days – the fastest-selling entertainment product ever.
Since then, a lot has happened in the Premier League. Teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Leicester City have all won the title, while the champions when GTA V came out, Manchester United, haven’t won it since.
The Premier League itself has changed too. There are more substitutes allowed, VAR was introduced (causing plenty of debate), and defenders can now receive the ball from goal kicks inside the box.
Many fans might not remember what the league table looked like back then. But some die-hard supporters could probably recall details like the weather and even the wind speed on the final game day before GTA V’s release!
The game launched on September 17, 2013, just four games into the 2013/14 Premier League season. Different teams still had plenty of hope for the rest of the season. Liverpool and Manchester City ended up battling for the title, with the winner not decided until the very last day.
At that time, Liverpool were top of the table with 10 points after wins over Stoke, Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Swansea. Manchester City were close behind in fourth place, just three points off Liverpool. Arsenal and Tottenham were second and third after winning three of their first four games. Manchester United and Chelsea were also in the top six then, with Stoke and Newcastle just behind.
Down at the bottom, Sunderland had a tough start with just one point from four games. Crystal Palace and West Brom were also near the bottom, but none of these teams ended up relegated by the season’s end. Instead, Cardiff City, Fulham, and Norwich City went down, even though they were mid-table at that point.
There have been changes in the Premier League clubs too. Teams like Cardiff, Norwich, Southampton, Stoke, Swansea, West Brom, and West Ham have all dropped to the Championship. Meanwhile, clubs like Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth, Leeds United, Ipswich, Coventry, and Nottingham Forest are now in the Premier League—even though back in 2013, Brentford and Coventry were still playing in League One! Their rise up the leagues has been amazing.