Ben-DutkaBeing a big fan of the franchise, I've been thinking about the future of GTA. Specifically, where exactly we'll be running amok in the upcoming Grand Theft Auto V , which hasn't been unveiled as of yet.
If we look back at the history of the series since GTAIII (when it broke through into elite territory), we see the almost entirely fictional metropolis of Liberty City, a virtual if not wholly faithful recreation of Miami in Vice City , the major cities and vast amount of land out in California (i.e., Los Angeles, San Francisco) in San Andreas , and the surprisingly realistic boroughs of New York City in GTAIV. So I say it's time to go global. I say we need to take advantage of one of the coolest cities in the world, one that is teeming with life, has a very distinct flair, and can go toe-to-toe with any other city in regards to crime, debauchery and fine living from ill-gotten gains…or so I've heard.
That city is Tokyo. Now, the Japanese aren't big fans of GTA – at least, not in comparison to the West – but we could really bring two cultures together in GTAV. In GTAIV, we had Russian immigrants getting their feet wet in NYC; in GTAV, how's about we have some American crime aficionados indulging in absolutely everything Tokyo has to offer? In some ways, I'm picturing a cross between Yakuza and GTA but because we don't want to alienate the Western fanbase, it's probably crucial that we maintain an American focus (i.e., on the characters). It just seems as if the possibilities in Japan's capital are limitless and if Rockstar wanted to expand beyond the boundaries of the city (as they did in San Andreas ), they could even include some of the smaller towns and villages outside Tokyo.
Other potentially great cities could be London, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Paris, or even Sydney. I just like the idea of GTA finally breaking the boundaries of the US and setting down roots in a whole new country. Of course, I still want GTA to be GTA…don't change that , Rockstar.