The Grand Theft Auto series has long been synonymous with its satirical portrayal of US cities, drawing on the cultural landscapes of places like New York’s Liberty City, Miami’s Vice City, and Los Angeles’ Los Santos. However, fresh insights from a former Rockstar developer reveal that the franchise once considered a dramatic departure from its American roots.
GTA’s International Ambitions
According to Obbe Vermeij, a former technical director at Rockstar, plans were once in place to take GTA to cities around the globe. Tokyo, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, and Moscow were all considered as potential settings. Vermeij shared that a Japanese studio was even set to develop GTA: Tokyo, but the project was ultimately shelved. He explained, “People love having these wild ideas, but when billions of dollars are at stake, it’s easier to stick with what we know.”
Why GTA Stays in the US
Vermeij further elaborated on the hesitance to take GTA overseas, noting that Western culture’s epicenter remains in America, with its cities easily recognizable even to those who haven’t visited. The scale and investment required for each new game make it unlikely for Rockstar to set a GTA game in a less conventional location any time soon. “I think it’s unlikely it’s going to be in Bogotá next time,” he stated, reinforcing the idea that the series will likely revisit familiar American locales like New York and Los Angeles.
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to return to Vice City and is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026. As the anticipation builds, it becomes clear that the series is rooted deeply in American soil, and any shift away from this formula seems improbable.
Controversy at Rockstar
Meanwhile, Rockstar Games is facing allegations of union-busting after dismissing 34 employees from its offices in the UK and Canada. The studio insists the firings were due to leaks of confidential information, but the affected employees deny these claims. Protests have erupted outside Rockstar’s offices in cities like Edinburgh, Paris, New York, and Toronto, as the fired workers strive to be reinstated and continue their work on GTA VI. Reports suggest tensions remain high, with Rockstar yet to address the concerns of those gathered at its offices.
