Rockstar Issues New Official Statement on GTA 6’s Depiction of Miami

GTA 6 is returning to Vice City, continuing a long tradition of Grand Theft Auto games taking place in fictional versions of American cities. From Liberty City and Los Santos to the streets of Vice City, Rockstar has spent decades building enormous open worlds inspired by the United States, frequently through a satirical lens. However, with GTA 6 introducing an even larger version of Florida through the state of Leonida, it’s worth wondering how non-Americans approach creating an even larger-than-life version of America’s wildest state.

There has certainly been interest in seeing Grand Theft Auto explore other cities and countries too, especially considering how much the franchise has changed since its earliest releases. GTA: London 1969 remains a notable exception to the series’ usual American setting, but Rockstar’s modern open-world games have largely focused on the United States. GTA 6 is no exception, as fans know that Vice City is loosely based on real-world Miami.

GTA 6: Miami as Vice City and Beyond

In a new interview with The Guardian, Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson was asked whether the company could envision a future GTA game taking place outside America, as well as how a group of non-American devs approached depicting Miami. Nelson didn’t rule out the possibility of the former, but suggested that Rockstar still has plenty of material to explore within the country, stating, “Never say never, but there’s still so much to do in America.” The developer also discussed Rockstar’s perspective on American culture, particularly given that many of its developers are based outside the United States. Nelson explained:

“I think we’re all outsiders to this version of America. It doesn’t matter where you live, no one experiences the America that we’re portraying here in its fullness.”

Nelson’s comments offer some insight into Rockstar’s approach, which has involved years of research for GTA 6 throughout Miami and other parts of Florida. The developer recalled spending time at a nightclub until 4 AM while researching the game, only to visit a racetrack the following day while dealing with a hangover. Nelson’s comments suggest that even developers living in the United States wouldn’t necessarily experience all the different aspects of American life that Rockstar attempts to represent in a single game.

Rockstar’s research began back in 2015, with developers visiting different communities, neighborhoods, and locations to better understand the region. These experiences have helped shape GTA 6‘s version of Vice City and Leonida, which combines recognizable elements of Florida with Rockstar’s own fictional interpretation (and plenty of the series’ familiar satire). Leonida will feature everything from the crowded streets of Vice City to smaller communities, islands, and rural environments, giving GTA 6 protagonists Jason and Lucia opportunities to encounter different people and situations.

As for what comes after GTA 6, Rockstar hasn’t announced GTA 7 or confirmed where another Grand Theft Auto game might take place. Nelson’s comments leave the possibility of an international setting open, but there’s no indication that the developer is actively planning one. Given how long GTA 6 has been in development, another mainline entry could also be many years away; that said, Rockstar has indicated that its next game won’t take as long as GTA 6.