Rockstar leaves open the possibility of returning to GTA games set outside the United States, but Rob Nelson says there’s more to explore in the GTA version of America.
While most Grand Theft Auto games take place in fictionalized versions of major American cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. However, two very early Grand Theft Auto games were set in London. Both were released in 1999; the main GTA London is set in 1969, with a free prequel mission set in 1961. In 2003, there were even plans to bring Grand Theft Auto to Tokyo, Japan.
GTA London 1969 was an expansion pack for the original Grand Theft Auto, released in 1997. The expansion was released for Windows PC and the original Sony PlayStation in April of ’99. Since then, most GTA games have been set in the USA. Still, with a development team largely made up of people from outside the States, the idea can’t be ruled out.
Rockstar Says There Is Still More to Do in GTA’s America
Speaking with The Guardian, Rob Nelson, one of the lead developers on GTA 6, was asked about the possibility of a future GTA game set outside America. He didn’t make it seem like such a game was on the horizon, but he said something like it was always possible.
However, he believes there is still so much to do in the fictitious version of the USA that exists in GTA games, remarking that everyone is truly foreign to that land and that no one ever fully experiences everything the vast worlds they create have to offer.
“Never say never, but there’s still so much to do in America,” he says. “I think we’re all outsiders to this version of America. It doesn’t matter where you live … no one experiences the America that we’re portraying here in its fullness.”
We are just under a week from the release of GTA 6. The game is easily the most anticipated of its generation. Learn more about early unboxings and what is included in the “physical” purchase at this link.
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I'm Robert DeFelice. I spent years covering pro-wrestling industry for outlets such as Fightful. After years in wrestling journalism, I’ve transitioned to video games, another passion of mine.
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