When managing a multi-billion dollar intellectual property like GTA, the temptation to stick with a winning formula is immense. The familiar aesthetic of American urban sprawls—like the neon-drenched Vice City—offers a reliable foundation. Vermeij points out that the U.S. remains the epicenter of Western pop culture, ensuring that these cities feel familiar to players worldwide, regardless of whether they’ve ever visited them in person.
“No player is going to boycott GTA VI just because they’ve already explored Vice City in previous titles,” Vermeij argued. “They’ll eventually return to New York, Los Angeles, or perhaps even Las Vegas. It seems we are destined to remain within a rotation of these core American cities, and that’s something fans should probably just accept.”
Furthermore, despite internet speculation suggesting a $100 price tag for GTA 6, Vermeij dismisses these claims. He suggests that the immense ongoing revenue from GTA Online allows the studio to maintain more traditional pricing for the base game, regardless of the vocal theories circulating online.
