With GTA 6 map again set in U.S., Rockstar addresses whether GTA 7 will go international

While the massive GTA 6 map includes multiple regions of Leonida, Vice City is familiar to players. A satirical version of Florida, it’s another Rockstar title set in the United States. Recent hints suggest that the GTA 7 release date could arrive sooner than expected. In a Guardian interview (paywalled), co-studio head Rob Nelson discussed a potential international setting.

The Miami-inspired metropolis has appeared in two previous Grand Theft Auto projects, most notably the 2002 GTA: Vice City. Yet the size of the GTA 6 map introduces countless overlooked areas. Rockstar North's Rob Nelson explained how dedicated the team was to capturing these locations.

Research involved “staying out in a Miami nightclub until 4 am,” then visiting a racetrack hours later while inebriated. The developers also joined police officers for shifts and scouted eccentric bars in the Florida Keys. Regardless, The Guardian wondered if a different nation would pose a welcome challenge.

Nelson replied, “Never say never, but there’s still so much to do in America,” when asked whether GTA 7 or a future title would leave the U.S. The Scotland-based Rockstar North may be more fascinated with the setting than local players. Even so, since the GTA 6 map shows another side of the country, Nelson argues, “I think we’re all outsiders to this version of America.”

South American dreams

On the November 19th GTA 6 release date, gamers can navigate a Leonida that’s much larger than the open world of GTA 5 or Red Dead Redemption 2. Still, a leak from 2018 claimed the latest entry originally involved parts of South America. Rockstar verified the Project Americas report and revealed stretched resources led to a downsized vision.

The studio may not face the same limitations when creating the inevitable GTA 7. In a Bloomberg interview, Technical Director Phil Hooker said the engine designed for GTA 6 can be used in upcoming projects. That could offset the difficulties of researching and rendering a foreign country. Nevertheless, Nelson seems eager to explore a new United States city.