In the early 2000s, Sony Computer Entertainment's Team Soho set out to create one of the most ambitious interactive crime dramas in gaming history. Inspired by gritty British crime cinema like Get Carter, The Long Good Friday, and Snatch, The Getaway series brought a uniquely authentic London underworld to life on the PlayStation 2. Featuring a minimalist display, real licensed vehicles, and an uncompromising narrative style, the franchise captured a distinct era of cinematic action gaming.
Understanding the full timeline of The Getaway requires looking at both its overarching narrative continuity and the release history of its mainline games and spin-offs. Below is the complete breakdown of the timeline, story events, and the legacy of this iconic British crime saga.
The Getaway Narrative Overview
The core storyline of The Getaway universe takes place in London during the early-to-mid 2000s. The narrative is heavily built upon dual or multi-character perspectives, showing major events from opposing sides of the law. Gangsters, rogue detectives, boxers, and hackers all find their fates intertwined through violence, betrayal, and corrupt power dynamics.
Chronological Order of Events
- 2002: The events of The Getaway unfold, following ex-con Mark Hammond and Flying Squad Detective Frank Carter.
- 2004: Two years later, the events of The Getaway: Black Monday take place, involving Officer Ben Mitchell, boxer Eddie O'Connor, and thief Rachel Beaufort.
- 2006: The spin-off title Gangs of London expands on the broader territorial warfare taking place across the city.
The Getaway (2002)
Released in late 2002 for the PlayStation 2, The Getaway introduced players to a photo-realistic 1:1 recreation of central London. The game's narrative is split into two distinct chapters, presenting a cohesive story seen from two contrasting viewpoints.
Mark Hammond's Chapter
The story begins with Mark Hammond, a retired member of the Soho Syndicate trying to live a quiet life. His world falls apart when his wife Suzy is murdered and his young son Alex is kidnapped by the Bethnal Green Mob, headed by ruthless crime boss Charlie Jayson. Jayson uses Alex as leverage to force Hammond into committing a series of high-profile crimes against rival gangs across London, including setting fire to a triad mansion and attacking a police station.
Detective Frank Carter's Chapter
The second half of the game follows DC Frank Carter, a hard-nosed Flying Squad detective operating in the same crime-ridden city. Carter is determined to bring down Charlie Jayson, despite pushback and corruption within his own police department. Carter's investigation gradually intersects with Hammond's forced crime spree.
The Sol Vita Climax
The storylines converge aboard the Sol Vita cargo ship docked in London. Hammond attempts to rescue his son while Carter infiltrates the ship to arrest Jayson. In the violent showdown, Charlie Jayson and many of his syndicate leaders are killed, the ship explodes, and Carter allows Hammond and his son to escape safely into the night.
The Getaway: Black Monday (2004)
Set two years after the destruction of the Bethnal Green Mob, The Getaway: Black Monday shifts the focus to a new power vacuum in London's underworld. The narrative is structured around three playable protagonists, offering branching path elements and multiple ending scenarios.
Ben Mitchell, Eddie O'Connor, and Rachel Beaufort
The story kicks off on a Monday morning in London when Sergeant Ben Mitchell of the Metropolitan Police Tactical Support Group leads a raid on a housing estate. The operation goes terribly wrong, setting off a chain reaction involving Russian mobsters, local criminals, and high-level corruption.
Meanwhile, Eddie O'Connor, a lightweight boxer, finds himself wrapped up in a bank heist gone wrong orchestrated by his mentor Danny West. Emerging thief and computer hacker Rachel Beaufort also becomes tangled in the chaos while trying to extract sensitive data from a powerful Russian syndicate run by Viktor Skobel.
Branching Storyline and Canon Conclusions
Unlike its predecessor, The Getaway: Black Monday allows player choices during critical missions to alter the fate of key characters. Depending on the player's performance and decisions, characters like Eddie or Rachel can survive or perish during their assault on Skobel's headquarters, adding significant replay value to the gritty narrative.
Gangs of London (2006)
In 2006, London Studio released Gangs of London for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). While serving primarily as a tactical action spin-off rather than a direct narrative sequel, the game is set within the same universe and city framework establish by The Getaway.
Players choose from five distinct criminal factions—including the British Firm, the Triads, the Yardies, the Russian Mob, and the Pakistani Mob—fighting for territorial dominance across London. While it relies less on a linear character-driven story, it enriches the worldbuilding of London's gang warfare seen in the previous mainline entries.
The Unreleased Future: The Getaway 3
Following the launch of the PlayStation 3, Sony revealed high-profile technical demos showcasing a third entry in The Getaway series set in Piccadilly Circus. Developed by London Studio, the project aimed to push next-gen physics and lighting to recreate modern London with unprecedented detail.
However, in 2008, Sony officially put The Getaway 3 on hold alongside Eight Days to shift development resources toward other PlayStation exclusive titles and emerging technology like PlayStation Move and VR. Though never officially completed, The Getaway remains a nostalgic landmark for open-world crime genre enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to play The Getaway games in order?
While The Getaway: Black Monday features a new main cast, playing The Getaway first provides important context regarding the London underworld, police dynamics, and returning minor characters.
Is Gangs of London canon to The Getaway timeline?
Gangs of London is a spin-off game set in the same fictionalized version of London. It doesn't heavily impact the main characters of the core games, but it reflects the ongoing gang struggles of the broader universe.
Who created The Getaway series?
The Getaway was originally developed by Team Soho, a development studio based in London under Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. The studio later merged with Camden studio to form SCE London Studio.
Final Thoughts
The timeline of The Getaway stands out as a memorable chapter in PlayStation history. By combining authentic British crime storytelling with innovative cinematic techniques, The Getaway and The Getaway: Black Monday delivered a distinct action-adventure experience that remains celebrated by fans of gritty interactive storytelling.
