Why Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto is Locked in its American Playground
Attention all Grand Theft Auto junkies! For years, you've daydreamed about wreaking thrilling havoc in graffiti-painted streets of Rio, icy alleys of Moscow, or the bustling bazaars of Istanbul. But hold your horses, because a former Rockstar titan just confirmed that your globe-hopping fantasies might remain just that – fantasies!
In a tell-all explosion of insights with Gameshub, Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar Games and key playa' from 1995 to 2009, spilled that post-Liberty City, San Andreas, and Vice City, Rockstar tossed around the idea of launching GTA games abroad. Tokyo came the closest to reality, poised to glide its way into your consoles with another studio in Japan ready to roll the dice. Yet, destiny had other plans!
What squashed this international romp? Turns out, Rockstar's heart belongs stateside. From skyscrapers to suburban chaos – American cities are the natural playground for GTA's madness. Vermeij noted, “when billions of dollars are in play, risk ain’t in the remix!” Plus, America's pop culture pulse simply beats globally, connecting fans worldwide to its chaos, even those who've never set foot stateside.
Picture GTA in Bogota or Toronto? Vermeij doesn’t think so: “It wouldn't work!”
You can chomp on those dreams but know this – GTA 6 is confirmed to transport us back to its adrenaline-filled rendition of Vice City. What about the future though? Could Rockstar ever take that gigantic leap over the pond?
Vermeij emphatically counters, “It’s not realistic.” Massive scale, deep tech changes, and significant investments mean these gamers' canvases remain bound to their American screens. He holds his ground that rockin' through said five American cities will continue to be the grand show, and new tech ensures every revisit feels fresh and electrifying! “Nobody will skip GTA 6 simply because they’ve cruised Vice City before.”
Rockstar’s co-founder Dan Houser also nodded his agreement, underscoring that Americana is G-dog's bread and butter. Even that quirky 26-year-old detour with GTA London couldn't tilt the scales away from this formula of success.
Fans! Where do you stand on this debate? Does your gaming heart yearn for global escapades, or are you lit about staying cozily in the realm of these American stomping grounds? Give us your thoughts and let the 'comment battles' commence!