GTA VI Returns to Vice City After 13-Year Wait

The new game follows Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval, a couple seeking to improve their circumstances through crime. Lucia has recently left prison, while Jason, a former soldier drawn into drug-running, is looking for another direction. A criminal job goes wrong and pulls them into a conspiracy across Leonida, a Florida-inspired setting surrounding Vice City, the series’ fictional take on Miami.

Rockstar’s trailers point to a story involving romance, robberies and betrayal, alongside the franchise’s satire of American culture. Supporting roles feature Raul Bautista, a bank thief; Dre’Quan Priest, who hopes to manage music talent; and Boobie Ike, proprietor of a nightclub. The company has kept most of the voice cast under wraps. Stephen Root has confirmed he appears in the game, though Rockstar has not confirmed he voices Brian Heder, a drug runner introduced in promotional material.

The franchise began in 1997 with a top-down game about stealing vehicles, evading police and committing crimes. Grand Theft Auto III, released in 2001, helped popularize a more expansive, three-dimensional approach to open-world games. Later entries built on that formula with larger settings, cinematic storytelling and detailed environments, while the series also faced criticism over its depictions of violence, crime and women.

Take-Two Interactive says global sales across the franchise exceed 470 million copies. More than 230 million of those are GTA V sales; the title came out in 2013 and brought in $1 billion in retail revenue over its first three days. Its online multiplayer mode has continued to draw players through updates, activities and in-game purchases.

GTA VI centers on two protagonists, rather than the three playable leads of its predecessor, and expands beyond Vice City into Leonida. Its original score is by French electronic duo Justice and is designed to change with players’ actions and surroundings. A 30-track album featuring Gesaffelstein, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, SZA and Tame Impala is scheduled for December 11. Rockstar has released trailers and previews, while details about gameplay activities and the online mode remain among the questions surrounding the release.