THE creator of the Grand Theft Auto series has said Unionists are “threatened” after he announced he’d joined the SNP.

Mike Dailly, who worked on the original prototype of the top video game as well as Lemmings, announced on Friday that he had joined the party.

The game designer said the party are “the best for Scotland … with no one else even close”.

“So time to put my money where my mouth is, and invest in Scotland’s future,” he wrote on Twitter.

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The decision was noted by outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who welcomed Dailly to her party.

Dailly’s decision prompted a major response from those within and outside of the SNP, generating hundreds of replies.

Late on Friday night, he responded to criticism from anti-independence figures.

“It is AMAZING how threatened Unionists are if you simply say you joined [the SNP],” the game designer wrote.

“Honestly … their fear is staggering.

“You’d think if they felt ‘safe’ they’d shrug and not care.

“But so many go out of their way to attempt to mock or insult you. They really are scared.”

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Dailly helped to co-found video game firm Rockstar North, spearheading the release of Lemmings in 1991. The game went on to be one of the best-selling of all time, with more than 20 million copies sold across consoles.

The award-winning firm is now based in Edinburgh, and has since been involved in developing other hit games like Red Dead Redemption.