Grand Theft Auto VI hasn’t even launched yet, but Rockstar Games has already been discovered by players for “just how serious they are about making games.” Rockstar’s Senior Vice President of Story Development Rupert Humphries revealed that the development team has made multiple trips to Florida for research over the years—from walking with former police officers through local neighborhoods at night, to visiting strip clubs, nightclubs, beaches, the Everglades, and even traveling all the way to the Florida Keys. They basically went everywhere they could.
Even Nightlife Needs Personal Research?
Humphries said the team wanted to “experience everything”, so these research trips weren’t just about taking photos and looking at scenery before heading home—they actually observed local life. The team also engaged with people from different backgrounds, including former criminals, law enforcement, nightclub owners, and others, listening to their stories and cross-referencing with books, news reports, and other materials. In other words, Rockstar didn’t just want to know what Florida looks like—they wanted to understand “how people here actually live”.
Jason and Lucia Will Travel to Different Places
Of course, GTA 6 won’t just have beaches, nightclubs, and “Florida man” memes. Humphries said that Jason and Lucia’s story will take players to different regions, letting them experience various local cultures and vibes. One core element of the game world is having rich and poor people living in very close environments, with crime and corruption being the key elements connecting different social classes.
Even the Details Can’t Be Made Up
This also explains why GTA 6’s world looks so vast. Rockstar North is based in Edinburgh, Scotland, but the game’s main setting Leonida is clearly Florida-inspired, so the team had to travel there long-term, personally observing cities, people, and culture. Looking back now, developers going to beaches, nightclubs, and even patrolling with former police officers seems to be not just “business trips on the company’s dime,” but to make players feel like they’re actually in a living Florida world when entering Vice City.