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GTA 6 boss says “never say never” when it comes to a new Grand Theft Auto game set outside America
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
Rob Nelson, Rockstar North co-studio head and a lead on GTA 6, has said the series could one day be set outside the United States, though Rockstar still has plenty to explore there. His comments keep open a possibility that often prompts debate because American culture and its excesses have been central to Grand Theft Auto’s satire.
In an interview with The Guardian, Nelson said, “Never say never,” and described the team as outsiders to the America it depicts. The series has drawn on settings including New York, California and Florida; the article notes it has been almost 20 years since a mainline game was set in New York. Earlier London-based expansions for the original GTA are also cited as precedent.
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In short
- Rockstar has not ruled out a GTA game outside the US.
- Nelson says there is still much to explore in America.
- The series’ satire is closely tied to US culture.
How this story developed
- 26 minutes ago Rob Nelson, Rockstar North co-studio head and a lead on GTA 6, says a future Grand Theft Auto game could be set outside the United States, but the series still has much to explore there.
- 32 minutes ago Rob Nelson, Rockstar North co-studio head and a lead on GTA 6, has said the series could one day be set outside the United States, though Rockstar still has plenty to explore there.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Setting a future Grand Theft Auto outside the United States could refresh the series and let it satirise new political systems, social norms and forms of excess. Rockstar’s earlier London-set expansions show that the series can draw on places beyond America, while a change of setting could help it avoid repeating familiar material.
The case against
Keeping the series in the United States could preserve the cultural context that has shaped its satire and made its settings recognisable to players. America’s regional contrasts and changing social landscape still offer ample material, so moving abroad could dilute the series’ distinctive focus or make its observations feel less grounded.
Explained simply
Grand Theft Auto is a series of open-world action games made by Rockstar Games. Players explore fictional cities, take on missions and encounter characters and institutions that often parody real life.
Many of the main games have drawn on American cities and regions, including New York, California and Florida. Their settings help shape the series’ portrayals of crime, wealth and popular culture, while earlier expansions also used London as a setting.
Rob Nelson is a senior figure at Rockstar North, the studio involved in making the games. Where a future game is set matters because each location offers different people, places and cultural references for the series to depict.
Coverage · 2 sources
Americas Entertainment Gaming GTA 6