GTA 6's version of Florida came before its story and characters. Rockstar North began field research in Miami in 2015, with developers exploring the places and social contrasts that would shape Vice City and the wider state of Leonida.
In a new Guardian interview, lead developer Rob Nelson describes an early process of getting to know Miami before organising more formal research trips. As Rockstar Report covered in its account of those visits, the team went well beyond the city's familiar skyline.
The Guardian's visit to Rockstar North explains the order behind that work: the setting comes first, followed by decisions about what players can do there, then the story and characters.
“Before you’re doing hyper-organised research trips, you’re immersing yourself in the place and its history, the vibe of it,” Nelson told the Guardian.
The Keys connect the research to Jason's story
The trips included a police ride-along in South Beach and time in bars in the Florida Keys. Nelson also recalled leaving a Miami nightclub at 4am, then heading to a racetrack a few hours later.
The Keys have a place in GTA 6's central character history, too. Rockstar's official character profiles say Jason Duval ended up working for local drug runners there after leaving the Army. Brian Heder, another character based in the Keys, lets Jason stay at one of his properties in return for help with local shakedowns.
Rockstar has already shown parts of that wider setting in its recent Leonida screenshot gallery, including Vice City's nightlife and waterfront.
The Guardian also saw how small actions fit into that world. During Nelson's demonstration, Jason could take bites of a doughnut while drinking a beer. When he ran carrying a six-pack, he tucked it into his arm as the liquid moved inside the bottles. The report puts the development team at almost 5,000 people.
Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, according to Rockstar's current game page. No PC release date is listed.