Former Obbe Vermeij, the onetime technical director at Rockstar Games, has revealed that the studio once explored setting Grand Theft Auto in major international cities, including Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, and Istanbul. He also explained why those ambitious plans were ultimately abandoned. Importantly, he mentioned why future titles are unlikely to leave the United States.
Speaking in a recent interview with Gameshub, Vermeij reflected on the franchise’s long-standing relationship with American cities. He addressed speculation about the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI. He clarified that although global locations were seriously considered, the risks ultimately outweighed the appeal.
Except for GTA London in 1999 and the stylised, futuristic setting of GTA 2, the series has consistently drawn inspiration from US cities. Vermeij, who worked on GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, and GTA IV, said early conversations at Rockstar often included bold international ideas.
“We had ideas about GTA games in Rio de Janeiro, Moscow and Istanbul,” he said. “Tokyo almost actually happened. Another studio in Japan planned to use our code to build GTA: Tokyo. But in the end, it didn’t go forward.”
An ex-technical director at Rockstar reveals a Grand Theft Auto game set in Tokyo “almost actually happened”
Obbe Vermeij said “We had ideas about GTA games in Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, and Istanbul … Another studio in Japan were going to take our code and do GTA: Tokyo” pic.twitter.com/KRERazUvGs
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) December 23, 2025According to Vermeij, familiarity plays a major role in Rockstar’s creative decisions. He explained that global audiences instantly recognise American cities through film, television, and popular culture. This is true even for those who have never visited the United States. This recognition reduces risk in a franchise where budgets now run into the billions.
As development costs rise, Vermeij believes Rockstar is less likely to gamble on unfamiliar locations. “It doesn’t make sense to choose a left-field city just for novelty,” he said. “With so much money involved, it’s safer to stay where players already feel connected.”
【ニュース】“「GTA Tokyo」がもう少しで実現していた”との元ロックスター開発者証言。日本のスタジオが開発する構想だったhttps://t.co/rhoKPOBzEq pic.twitter.com/rYDg7tVBGW
— AUTOMATON（オートマトン） (@AUTOMATONJapan) December 24, 2025He also dismissed the idea of future European settings as unrealistic. That view aligns with comments from Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser, who has previously explained why Grand Theft Auto remains deeply rooted in American culture. Houser noted that GTA London was a fun experiment. However, the series ultimately found its identity through satirising the US.
Read: GTA 6’s Release Date, Trailer Details, and Platforms Confirmed
Looking ahead, Vermeij expressed enthusiasm about returning to Vice City in GTA 6, calling the setting exciting and praising the trailers released so far. He added that while online speculation has suggested a $100 price tag for the new game, Rockstar itself has made no such announcement.
“This is something the internet decided,” Vermeij said, pushing back against claims that the game will break industry pricing norms.
For now, his remarks offer rare insight into how close Grand Theft Auto came to going global. Despite those early ambitions, the franchise continues to find its strongest footing on American streets.
