GTA 6 Concept, Timeline & Settings: Why Vice City is Perfect for Jason & Lucia (And My Concerns About the Modern Era)

Hi everyone,

Without a doubt, the upcoming release of GTA 6 is the most important and loudest event in the gaming industry in recent years. Today, I wanted to share my thoughts on the pros and cons of what we know so far, starting with the evolution of its core concept. 



As we know from various insider reports, the game we are waiting for went through at least three different story concepts over the years, which explains why development took so long. 



The first concept reportedly focused on drug cartels and featured three playable characters: a cop trying to get his son out of the drug business, the son himself, and a remorseful cartel member. Management allegedly rejected this, feeling the story was way too dark. The second concept focused on two characters: a female Vice City cop trying to avenge her father's death (who was likely an undercover officer) and a Trevor-like psychopath. 



Finally, Rockstar greenlit the third concept—the current story inspired by Bonnie and Clyde, a pair of lovers committing robberies. In my opinion, this is by far the most interesting concept, and here is why.



GTA has never been just a generic gangster game; it’s a brilliant satire and parody of our times. Millions of players worldwide fell in love with this exaggerated, dark-humored atmosphere combined with a great storyline. The Bonnie and Clyde dynamic is fascinating. If Rockstar maintains its classic satirical edge, we are in for a masterpiece. However, in today's climate of political correctness, there's always a risk of compromises. I truly hope Rockstar won't bow down to censorship and will keep the raw, untamed climate we all love.



We also know through community discussions that GTA 6 is a massive AAA project designed to last for years. Unfortunately, to hit the release window, some content was allegedly cut to be delivered later as DLCs. I just hope we won't see a repeat of GTA V, where promised single-player DLCs were completely abandoned for GTA Online. Thankfully, rumours suggest that this time, both single-player and online modes will receive continuous updates. Rockstar likely learned its lesson after pushing away a huge portion of the single-player community during the GTA V era.



Now, let's talk about the most crucial aspect: the time and setting. The GTA universe is beautifully divided into two eras: the 3D Era (GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, Liberty City Stories, Vice City Stories) and the HD Era (GTA IV with its DLCs, GTA V, and now GTA VI). 



Rockstar has given us three main cities based on real-world locations: 
1. Liberty City – the concrete jungle of GTA III, LCS, and GTA IV. 
2. Los Santos – the city of business, celebrities, and Hollywood-style glamour (GTA SA and GTA V). A great setting, but sometimes feeling a bit too clean for a raw gangster game. 
3. Vice City – the beautiful, neon-lit paradise of crime. In the 3D era, it gave us an incredible story about building a drug empire.



Returning to Vice City (and the state of Leonida, inspired by Florida) is a brilliant choice. The map is rumored to be several times larger than GTA V’s already massive world. More importantly, Vice City is the only place where a Bonnie and Clyde story can truly work. Jason and Lucia aren't high-profile mafia bosses or celebrities—they are street robbers, and Vice City naturally attracts that kind of hustle. I couldn't imagine them in Liberty City or modern Los Santos. It would be like forcing Niko Bellic into the glamorous Vinewood hills; it just wouldn't fit.



However, I do have one major concern: the modern-day setting and the heavy focus on social media. Personally, I think this story would have peaked if it were set in the late 90s or early 2000s. It would allow for amazing character connections to the 3D era, and those years just felt more colorful and fitting for a raw crime romance. I really hope the writing is strong enough to justify choosing the modern era.



What do you guys think? Did Rockstar make the right choice regarding the time period and setting, or would you prefer a different era or city?



*** 
P.S. Because I am deeply passionate about preserving the history, mechanics, and raw atmosphere of the classic 3D Era, I am currently building a dedicated digital video archive called PlayWithTiger on YouTube. I record full, high-quality No Commentary / Pure Gameplay walkthroughs so players can experience these stories in their purest form, without any shouting, jump-scares, or artificial streamer commentary. If you want to take a nostalgic, high-resolution trip down memory lane, feel free to check out my completed archives here:



 



[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Full Archive]




    




 



[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Full Archive]