Listen up, GTA fans! For years, dreams of a global Grand Theft Auto adventure have danced through the minds of gamers everywhere. Could you imagine the chaotic car chases and explosive escapades set against the bustling rhythms of Rio de Janeiro or the icy backdrops of Moscow? Well, it might be time to mix some reality into our gaming dreams!
In a high-octane interview with Gameshub, ex-Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij, who drove the company’s tech from 1995 to 2009, spilled the beans on what could have been. There were whispers of GTA editions mapped in exotic places like Istanbul, but Tokyo? Tokyo nearly put on the Rockstar jacket and hit the streets in style! But, alas, the Tokyo heist never knocked on gamers' doors.
Vermeij unveiled that a different studio in Japan was queued up to take Rockstar’s coding genius and spin it into GTA: Tokyo. But… you guessed it, the project stalled on the start line.
So why the stop sign on these exotic escapades? Rockstar’s realization: America’s storied cities are the beating heart of GTA! They're the hub of Western narratives—a familiar playground, even for those who've never set foot on American soil. “With high stakes riding on each game, sticking with what we know is the smartest move,” Vermeij revealed. Players globally form vivid mental images of these iconic cities, making them the perfect playground for mayhem and mischief.
He continued, “Our futuristic road map won’t spin the wheel to Bogota or even Toronto! When there are billions involved, sticking to America makes sense.” Vermeij confessed we might be forever caught in an American loop, hopping between vibrant versions of New York, LA, or Vegas. And you know what? It works!
The return to Vice City in GTA 6 is right around the corner, bringing Miami vibes back into play. But what about future horizons? Could continental Europe or London ever get the Rockstar nod? Vermeij thinks not. “We’re in this grand 12-year cycle, and changing locales isn’t key to the fun,” he states.
Echoing these thoughts, Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser recently unpacked why America is the game’s spirit animal. Speaking on the Lex Fridman podcast, Houser acknowledged the enchanting days of GTA London on PS1 but underscored that Americana is at GTA’s core. You need guns! You need epic characters! And America delivers in scale and spectacle.
So there it is. While we might fantasize about a globe-trotting GTA, the digital wild, wild west isn’t riding off our screens anytime soon. Feel differently? Would you like Rockstar to shift gears and switch continents? Drop your comments and let’s hear your visionary voice!