Rockstar Games once flirted with a globe-trotting Grand Theft Auto, but don’t hold your breath for GTA 6 maps set outside the United States. According to a former Rockstar developer, Tokyo nearly happened but familiar American streets still reign supreme.
GTA 6 maps won’t venture far, says ex-Rockstar director
Obbe Vermeij, Rockstar North’s former technical director, recently confirmed something many fans suspected: GTA: Tokyo was a serious pitch. In a new interview with GamesHub, he revealed that another studio in Japan was once slated to build the title using Rockstar’s existing codebase.
Tokyo wasn’t the only location in the mix. Moscow, Istanbul, and Rio de Janeiro were also considered. Of those, Tokyo came closest. But ultimately, the project was shelved and not because the idea lacked appeal.
The Last Ninja Collection + Bonus Games brings seven retro classics to Steam with full controller support and physical editions planned.
Rockstar stays close to home for cultural reasons
Vermeij explained why GTA continues to recycle American backdrops. It’s not laziness, it’s strategy. “America is basically the epicenter of Western culture,” he said. For Rockstar, satire is central to the series, and no place delivers that like the U.S.
This explains why GTA 6 maps are expected to revisit Vice City, one of the franchise’s most iconic settings. It also helps justify the studio’s caution. With blockbuster budgets and global expectations, straying too far from the familiar may just feel like too much risk.
Maps may expand slightly but not globally
Rumors have long teased that GTA 6 might dabble in South American locales, especially given the game’s apparent focus on drug cartels and crime syndicates. Vermeij admits this would fit the theme, mentioning Colombia as a possible fit.
But don’t expect Rockstar to go full open-world passport. More likely, the map will blend familiar Vice City streets with small extensions meant to simulate international flavor without leaving the U.S. bubble entirely.
GTA 6 maps reflect risk, nostalgia, and Rockstar’s focus
With AAA development cycles stretching longer and delays already shadowing GTA 6’s release, Rockstar isn’t likely to gamble on brand-new geography. Instead, they’re leaning into what works: richly detailed maps, American satire, and cities fans know by heart.
And with the tech to make old settings feel brand new, Rockstar doesn’t need to go global to keep GTA fresh.
