The Grand Theft Auto series has long been known for being set in fictional versions of American cities like Liberty City, Vice City, and Los Santos. However, recent statements from Rockstar Games suggest the series’ fate could have been very different. In an interview, the company’s former technical director, Obbe Vermeij, admitted that the game almost ventured internationally, with Istanbul being a strong candidate.
Why were the Istanbul, Tokyo, and Rio plans cancelled?
Speaking in an interview with GamesHub, Vermeij stated that the development team had serious ambitions to expand beyond the borders of America. They specifically considered cities like Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, and Moscow. In fact, the GTA: Tokyo project came closest to being realized. There were plans for another Japan-based studio to develop the game using Rockstar’s code, but this was abandoned at the last minute. The cancellation was attributed to the billion-dollar risks involved and the dominance of American popular culture.
Vermeij emphasizes that as the scale of the project increased, so did the risks involved. The former executive stated that in a multi-billion dollar production, executives prefer to stick to what they know, noting that America is seen as a safe haven. The fact that it’s the center of Western culture and that everyone is familiar with these cities is the biggest reason for this insistence on America. Therefore, it seems unlikely that surprise cities like Bogota or Toronto will be chosen in the future.
The extended game development times are another obstacle to experimenting with different locations. Vermeij says that in an era where game development takes 12 years, it’s unrealistic to engage in experimental projects. Therefore, the developer argues that players should get used to the New York, Los Angeles, or Las Vegas cycle, and that returning to the same cities won’t be a problem as technology advances. The highly anticipated new installment of the series, GTA 6, will take place on November 19, 2026, in the familiar streets of Vice City.
So, what would it be like if the GTA series took place on the streets of Istanbul? Which neighborhoods would you like to see in the game? Share your dreams with us in the comments!
