Keep up the good work Grand Theft Auto VI Rockstar Games not only had to create a massive open world and dozens of gameplay systems, but also a rather unusual way to explore futuristic locations. As Rockstar SVP of Story Rupert Humphries told Game Informer, the developers made multiple trips to Miami and other parts of South Florida over the years to get the most direct look at life in the area. Plans for such trips range from ordinary walks along beaches and natural areas to nighttime tours of the city with former police officers, visits to nightclubs and strip clubs, and trips to the Everglades and Florida Keys.
According to Humphreys, rock star I try not to limit myself to photos, references or outside observations. The team really immersed themselves in all aspects of local life, studying what different areas look like, how they differ from each other and the impression they give at different times of the day. This approach was especially important for GTA 6, as the developers worked hard to bring not only recognizable landmarks into the game, but also the vast atmosphere of modern Florida and its various contrasts.
This time, Rockstar once again turns to Vice City – a global signature version of Miami Grand Theft AutoHowever, the game itself goes far beyond familiar cities. Modern Leonidas consists of six main areas: Vice City, Leonidas Islands, Glass Rivers, Gellhorn Harbor, Ambrosia, and Mount Caraga National Park. Each of them is created as an independent part of the common world, with its own characteristics, nature, population and atmosphere. This is clearly visible in official Rockstar materials, where separate images and descriptions have been released for each region.
Additionally, Rockstar decided to showcase more than just the tourist side of Florida. Sin City will be the center of urban life, with its beaches, heavy traffic, and nightlife, while Grass River will resemble the Everglades, with its swamps and rich natural beauty. Port Gellhorn is styled after a more troubled resort area with cheap motels and abandoned properties, Ambrosia has ties to industry and local criminal gangs, and Leonida Keys takes players to the Florida Keys. Caraga Mountain National Park lets you get into the wild.
The diversity of environments is one of the reasons for conducting such a large-scale study. In “GTA 6”, the activities that players can engage in will go far beyond crime: public information has shown kayaking, various street and off-road racing, gym training and other activities. As such, Rockstar is trying to make Leonidas less of a setting for story missions and more of a world where various communities, entertainment, and natural areas exist simultaneously.
The studio pays special attention to crowds. Game Informer noted that NPCs in GTA 6 are more diverse in appearance, body shape, and physical characteristics than in previous Rockstar games. The creators wanted to emphasize the differences between various demographic groups and regions so that Leonidas can be seen as one complete region rather than several identical locations connected by roads. Humphreys also emphasized that the closeness of rich and poor residents, cultural differences, and crime connect different classes of society in some form, which is especially important for the world of “GTA 6”.
Not surprisingly, strip clubs were among the most discussed items in the study. These types of locations have long been part of the Grand Theft Auto formula, but in the case of GTA 6, they’ve generated even more interest thanks to old leaks. Previous leaks have included scenes containing explicit adult content, including a nudist settlement. However, it’s important to distinguish leaked content from official material: Rockstar has yet to show off full gameplay inside a strip club in its own trailer, nor have it revealed all the details about what’s to come. However, the fact that the developers visited the sites as part of the research has now been confirmed by the words of a studio representative.
Rockstar’s interest in Florida in general isn’t surprising, as Vice City has been the setting for the series multiple times. However, previous mature games using this version of Miami were released as far back as the PlayStation 2 era: After Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Later in 2002 sin city story 2006. Twenty years have passed since then, during which time Florida itself has changed in terms of culture, urban environment, entertainment, and communication. So for a modern GTA, it wasn’t enough to just copy the old idea of Vice City – Rockstar had to re-examine the area from today’s perspective.
Judging from the released information, Rockstar is creating Leonidas by combining solid details with trademark irony. The studio wanted to show not only neon Miami and its beaches, but also swamps, provincial areas, industrial areas, tourist attractions and completely different social groups. As a result, the familiar GTA formula should get a richer version of Florida, with even the world’s most bizarre elements based on the developers’ real observations. Grand Theft Auto VI is currently scheduled to release on November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
