Grand Theft Auto 6 Can Make the Most of its Setting with One Fun Addition

Highlights

• GTA 6 confirmed to be set in Vice City, with a larger playable area including parts of Leonida state.
• Rockstar may explore Florida-inspired locations like Disney World and Universal Studios.
• GTA 6 could expand on the amusement park concept from GTA 5, offering new RP opportunities and social hubs.

Excitement and discussion around Grand Theft Auto 6 is still flying high following the game’s first official trailer, which was released in December 2023. As expected, this trailer was brief and only scratched the surface of what the title will eventually offer, but it still confirmed some massively important details around the most important features of the game, such as its main characters and core setting.

Many fans were delighted with the confirmation that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be taking the franchise back to the iconic location of Vice City, with over two decades having passed since the last portrayal of the Miami-inspired setting. Rockstar is known for the level of detail it weaves into its in-game locations, and a revisiting of Vice City in GTA 6 will allow the setting to be explored in ways that were impossible back in 2002. For example, Rockstar has confirmed that GTA 6‘s playable area will be much larger than Vice City itself, including large parts of the in-game state of Leonida. With Leonida being inspired by Florida, GTA 6 is in a unique position to feature a wild take on the likes of Disney World and Universal Studios for players to explore.

Grand Theft Auto 6 Can Take In-Game Entertainment to the Next Level

Of course, Rockstar will be able to offer a huge range of gameplay opportunities for Grand Theft Auto 6 within Vice City itself, but fleshing out the surrounding areas of the city will be just as important. GTA 5 achieved this well with the outskirts of Los Santos, with locations like Mount Chiliad and Sandy Shores offering a great contrast from the bustling city.

Rockstar’s confirmation that the state of Leonida will appear in detail alongside Vice City confirms the main way that GTA 6 will attempt to continue this tradition. Rumors even suggest that the upcoming title may allow players to explore the Caribbean Islands alongside this, but it is clear either way that Rockstar is aiming for a level of scale that is befitting of the expectations of what GTA 6 will offer.

A greater focus on Leonida gives Rockstar the entire state of Florida as inspiration and reference, with GTA 6 leaning into Florida’s space exploration facilities being just one example of how this might work. Alongside this industry, Florida is renowned for being home to some world-famous amusement parks, and GTA 6 could easily delve into a satirical portrayal of locations like Disney World and Universal Studios as a result.

Grand Theft Auto 6 Could Continue the Franchise’s Amusement Park Evolution

While Grand Theft Auto 4 famously featured an inoperable roller coaster known as the Screamer, it was GTA 5 that finally delivered on the concept of interactive rides for the franchise. At Los Santos’ famous Del Perro Pier, players can ride things like roller coasters and Ferris wheels, being inspired by the attractions of California’s Santa Monica Pier. These rides were a unique part of GTA 5 and a meeting hub for a lot of antics in Grand Theft Auto Online, and GTA 6 is in a prime position to take this a step further.

Having a large-scale amusement park in Grand Theft Auto 6 could lead to some of the most memorable set-piece sequences that the franchise has ever seen, and could be a fantastic way to create a go-to social hub for the game’s take on GTA Online. With GTA 6 being expected to lean further into the roleplay aspect of GTA Online, a theme park with a wide range of different rides and attractions could be massively conducive to memorable RP moments. More rides and features could then be added through post-launch updates to keep things fresh, giving even more potential to Rockstar taking inspiration from some iconic Florida attractions for its portrayal of Vice City and Leonida.