Archive · 26 Dec 2025
Rockstar Games Explored International GTA Settings
Rockstar Games, the company that makes Grand Theft Auto (GTA), once thought about setting the game in different countries like Japan, Brazil, and Russia.
They even started planning a version called GTA: Tokyo.
However, they decided not to do it because they thought it was too risky.
American cities are more familiar to people around the world, so they stick to places like New York and Los Angeles.
The next GTA game, GTA 6, will be set in Vice City, which is like Miami.
The company believes that the American setting is a big part of what makes GTA special.
Rockstar Games considered setting GTA in international locations like Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, Istanbul, and Tokyo.
A GTA: Tokyo project was in early development but was shelved due to commercial risks.
American cities are preferred for their familiarity and cultural recognition.
GTA 6 is set in Vice City, a Miami-inspired location, and future games are likely to revisit familiar US settings.
Rockstar believes that the American setting is central to GTA's identity and appeal.
- Who
- Rockstar Games, Obbe Vermeij, Dan Houser
- What
- Exploration of international settings for GTA
- When
- Not specified, but recent interview
- Where
- Potential settings: Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, Istanbul, Tokyo
- Why
- Commercial risk and familiarity with US cities
- Potential GTA Locations
- Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, Istanbul, Tokyo
- Reason for Shelving
- Commercial risk and familiarity with US cities
- GTA 6 Setting
- Vice City (Miami-inspired)
- Development Time
- Nearly a decade per entry
- Rockstar's Perspective
- American culture is central to GTA's identity