GTA's Global Adventure? Rockstar Sticks to America!

Calling all Grand Theft Auto fanatics! Ever dreamt of tearing up the streets of Rio or ruling the underworld of Moscow in your favorite open-world mayhem? Well, hold onto your game controllers because a former Rockstar wizard is dropping mega news!

In a Gameshub exclusive, Obbe Vermeij, the genius technical director from Rockstar's golden years (1995-2009), gave us the inside scoop that GTA once toyed with taking a wild ride through Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, and Istanbul. Can you believe Tokyo was this close to making the cut?

Vermeij revealed that while he was wrapping up GTA 4, plans were in motion for a Japanese studio to bring GTA: Tokyo to life. He didn't spill the beans on which studio, but the dream died on the vine.

Why didn't it happen? It seems Rockstar realized that American cities are the pulse of GTA's immersive experiences. With decades between game launches, diving into uncharted waters might just sink the ship.

Vermeij dropped some truth bombs, saying, “People dream big, but when billions are on the line, playing it safe is the name of the game. America - it's the heartbeat of Western culture. Everyone's got a mental map, even if they've never set foot there.”

So, sorry folks, no GTA: Bogota or GTA: Toronto in sight. With each new game, all eyes are on familiar American icons — think neon Vice City or sun-soaked Los Santos. Why mess with perfection, right?

Next up, GTA 6 blasts back into the neon-drenched stone age of Vice City! But after that? Dream of the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben all you want – it’s all stateside, baby!

Vermeij echoes Rockstar's legendary co-founder Dan Houser’s words on the Lex Fridman podcast, reminding us: aside from a cute detour with GTA London, the series bathes in the glory of Americana, guns blazing!

As Houser playfully reminisces about the old-school charm of the first PlayStation escapades, it’s crystal clear — Rockstar’s heart beats red, white, and blue. So gear up and hit those American streets; the GTA hustle continues where it always has!

Would you dare to explore GTA in foreign lands or stay true to its U.S. roots? Let the debate rage in the comments!