The Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series, emblematic of Rockstar Games, has maintained its focus on recreating iconic cities in the United States such as Liberty City (New York), Vice City (Miami), and Los Santos (Los Angeles).
This decision, according to Dan Houser, co-founder of the company, is due to the deep connection between the game’s narrative and American culture, something that makes it difficult to expand the series to other international cities.
In a recent interview, Houser explained that while there are exciting cities in the world, none offer the same cultural resonance as American metropolises.
Violence is intrinsically linked to GTA
“GTA has repeatedly returned to Miami, New York, Los Angeles because these places have a mix of ‘shiny surface and a dark underworld’ that allows for effective satire of American culture,” he expressed.
Houser also referred to GTA London 1969, an expansion pack released in 1999, describing it as “fun”, but emphasizing that there was no genuine interest in creating a standalone game set outside the U.S.
“For a complete GTA game, we decided that there was so much ‘Americana’ inherent in the intellectual property that it would be difficult to make it work in London or anywhere else,” he stated.
The gun culture in the United States, an essential element in the gameplay of GTA, also plays a crucial role in the game’s narrative. “The type of game we provide wouldn’t hold up in the same way in other countries,” added Houser, who left Rockstar in 2020 after guiding the stories of the first five games in the series and Red Dead Redemption.
Finally, GTA 6 is expected to be released on PC on May 26, although the company has not yet confirmed an exact release date. Fans of the series are eagerly awaiting the next installment, which promises to continue exploring the elements that have made GTA a cultural phenomenon.