Here's Why Rockstar Won't Make GTA Outside of America

Fantasizing about tearing through Tokyo’s streets, running a shady empire in Moscow, or dealing in Rio de Janeiro? Time to let those dreams go.

GTA: Tokyo Was Almost a Reality

Obbe Vermeij, Rockstar North’s technical director from 1995 to 2009, spilled the beans in a GamesHub interview. GTA: Tokyo wasn’t just some random idea—it was a legit project that got pretty far before Rockstar pulled the plug. This news hits as hype for GTA 6, set to revisit Vice City next year, is through the roof. But if you’re holding out for a GTA beyond the U.S., Vermeij’s got a reality check: don’t bother.

Vermeij, who worked on classics like Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, San Andreas, and IV, said the Tokyo game would’ve been built by a Japanese studio using Rockstar’s code. It moved past sketches and was seriously in the works before getting canned. And Tokyo wasn’t alone—Rockstar also toyed with ideas for GTA games in Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, and Istanbul. Those cities could’ve brought fresh cultures and crime scenes, shaking up the series’ usual U.S.-focused style.

Why International GTA Got Scrapped

So, what killed these cool ideas? Cash, plain and simple. GTA games now cost billions to make, and Rockstar’s not about to gamble. Vermeij explained that American cities like New York, L.A., or Miami are instantly familiar to players worldwide, thanks to movies, TV, and past GTA games. That instant recognition builds a connection you don’t get with, say, Toronto or Bogota.

Development time’s another factor. Back when games took a year to make, Rockstar could mess around with new places. Now, with GTA titles taking over a decade, trying something risky is way too pricey. Vermeij noted that even San Andreas almost went in a totally different direction back in the day when pivots were easier. Those times are long gone.

Sticking to America Pays Off

Tech advancements mean revisiting U.S. cities doesn’t feel stale. The Vice City in GTA 6 will look and feel worlds apart from the 2002 version, despite being the same fictional spot. With better graphics, denser NPCs, slicker weather, and sharper physics, it’s like a whole new place. Why bet billions on Tokyo when you can make Miami feel fresh every 15 years?

Vermeij thinks Rockstar will keep rotating through about five American cities, like Liberty City (New York), Los Santos (L.A.), and maybe Las Vegas. Dan Houser, Rockstar’s co-founder, said something similar recently. Leaked files years back even mentioned a “Tokyo PS2” project, proving it was real, but Sam Houser found that adapting GTA’s American crime satire to Japan’s culture was too tricky.

The cultural details that make GTA sharp don’t always translate. Tokyo’s got no big gun culture, Moscow’s crime world runs differently, and Rio’s favelas need a unique storytelling approach. Rockstar’s mastered poking fun at America—why risk botching a foreign setting and ticking off entire countries?

What’s Next for GTA Fans

For now, players are stuck with American cities, but Rockstar’s lens makes them epic. Even without original creators for GTA 6, the U.S. focus is locked in—it’s a proven formula, and the money’s too good to mess with. Vice City looks jaw-dropping in GTA 6’s trailers, which is a small win for fans who wanted to cruise Tokyo’s Shibuya or dodge cops in Moscow’s metro.