GTA Tokyo Almost Happened: Why Rockstar Killed the Project
Grand Theft Auto fans dreaming of a heist in London, Tokyo, might need to adjust their expectations. A former Rockstar technical director has dropped a reality check on why the franchise refuses to leave the United States.
It isn’t just about creative preference. It comes down to billions of dollars and the massive risks involved in game development today.
Learn the evolution of the GTA series and the anticipated return to Vice City with GTA VI!
The Financial Reality of Global GTA
Obbe Vermeij, a technical director at Rockstar North from 1995 to 2009, recently explained the studio’s stance. In an interview with Gameshub, he revealed that while the team had wild ideas, the financial stakes are simply too high now.
“People love having these wild ideas,” Vermeij stated. “But then when you’ve got billions of dollars riding on it, it’s too easy to go let’s do what we know again.”
Moving the franchise to a “left-field” location acts as a massive gamble. American cities provide a safety net because global audiences already understand the cultural shorthand of New York, Miami, or Los Angeles.
The Lost Project: GTA Tokyo
Surprisingly, Rockstar didn’t always play it safe. Vermeij confirmed that GTA: Tokyo was more than just a rumor. It “almost actually happened” during the PS2 era. A separate studio in Japan was set to utilize Rockstar’s code to build the game. Ideas for Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, and Istanbul also floated around the office.
Ultimately, the project died. The logistics of Japanese road systems and the specific cultural vibe didn’t translate well enough to justify the deviation from the core formula.
Why GTA Needs “Americana”
It isn’t just Vermeij saying this. Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser has historically echoed this sentiment. The franchise relies heavily on “Americana“—the guns, the larger-than-life media satire, and the car culture.
Houser noted on the Lex Fridman podcast that while GTA London 1969 was “cute” on the PS1, a modern 3D entry needs that specific US flavor. “You needed guns, you needed these larger-than-life characters,” Houser explained. “It just felt like the game was so much about America, possibly from an outsider’s perspective.”
Is the Franchise Stuck in the “Big Five”?
So, what does this mean for the future beyond GTA 6? According to Vermeij, players should get comfortable with the current roster of cities. He suggests we are likely stuck in a loop of New York (Liberty City), Miami (Vice City), and Los Angeles (Los Santos), with Las Vegas (Las Venturas) potentially in the mix.
“I’m afraid we’re stuck in this loop of about five American cities. Let’s just get used to it,” Vermeij concluded. The technology changes enough between releases that revisiting these hubs feels fresh regardless of the repetition.
Verdict: Why Sticking to the US Works for GTA
While the idea of drifting through Tokyo keeps fans speculating, Rockstar’s strategy safeguards the quality of the product. By focusing on known environments, they can satire American culture with a precision no other developer can match. With GTA 6 returning to Vice City, the formula clearly works. Why fix what breaks sales records?
Does a GTA set outside the US ruin the satire for you, or is the location irrelevant as long as the gameplay holds up?
A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !
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