Ex-GTA developer says Rockstar is ‘stuck’ using American cities

A former Rockstar developer says Grand Theft Auto remains US-focused because global locations carry higher risk

A former Rockstar Games developer says the Grand Theft Auto franchise is unlikely to explore locations outside the United States.

Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar North, explained in a recent interview that Rockstar is essentially “stuck” revisiting the same US-based cities due to the financial risks involved in developing GTA titles. With billions of dollars at stake for each release, Vermeij noted, the studio prefers to rely on familiar locations that resonate with a global audience.

Since its debut in the late 1990s, the Grand Theft Auto franchise has consistently been set in fictionalized versions of American cities, including Liberty City (New York), Vice City (Miami), Los Santos (Los Angeles), and Las Venturas (Las Vegas). The upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, scheduled for release in November 2026, will return to Vice City while expanding into the broader state of Leonida, Rockstar’s take on Florida.

Vermeij explained that American cities are deeply embedded in global pop culture, making them instantly recognizable even to players who have never visited the United States. This widespread familiarity, he said, makes US locations a safer creative and commercial choice than international alternatives.

While fans have long called for settings in cities such as London or regions in South America, Vermeij confirmed that past concepts for GTA games set in Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, and Istanbul were explored but ultimately abandoned. He noted that a GTA: Tokyo project was once discussed, with plans involving a Japanese studio, but the idea never moved forward.

As anticipation builds for GTA 6, Vermeij believes Rockstar will continue cycling through a small number of iconic American cities, reinforcing a long-standing formula that remains central to the franchise’s success.