Summary
Despite being one of the most highly anticipated video games currently in development, players still don’t know what to expect fromGrand Theft Auto 6. Although videos from aleaked build ofGTA 6posted online in 2022 gave gamers some idea of what the next entry in Rockstar’s long-running crime simulator has in store, the developer has remained tight-lipped about the details. If long-standing rumors aboutGTA 6returning to the iconic, sun-and-sin-soaked Vice City prove to be true, though, then Rockstar needs to give players a chance to revisit one of its most iconic locations.
Returning to Vice City could disappoint gamers hoping forGTA 6to be a fresh start for Rockstar, but heading back to the series’ old stomping grounds doesn’t mean Rockstar can’t innovate in other ways. AlthoughGTA 5similarly returned to a past location, there were surprisingly few threads connectingGTA 5’s San Andreas to the game bearing the city’s name. Rockstar could change this with its reportedly Vice City-setGTA 6by letting players visit one of the most iconic locations from its 2002 forbearer, the Vercetti estate, and incorporating the sprawling criminal compound into the story and gameplay.
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GTA 6 Should Let Players Visit What Remains of the Vercetti Estate
Assuming thatGTA 6is set in the modern day, by the time players return to Vice City it’ll have been nearly 40 years since the events ofGTA: Vice City. While the city’s criminal elements will undoubtedly still be out in force, the balance of power in Vice City is likely to have shifted substantially in the decades since Tommy Vercetti’s rise to power. Given thedeath of Ray Liottain 2022 it’s unlikely that Tommy will be making an appearance in a Vice City-centricGTA 6, but the massive mansion the mobster called home can still play a role in the game.
Already middle-aged during the events ofGTA: Vice Cityand engaged in a decidedly dangerous line of work,it’s likely thatcareer criminal Tommy Vercettiwould have passed away by the timeGTA 6begins. This would create an opening for making the Vercetti estate a run-down shell of its former self and a potential starting base for players as they build their own criminal empire. An early mission could task players with clearing out gang members squatting in the once-opulent estate before taking control of it. With the Vercetti estate now in players’ hands, holding onto it could play an important role inGTA 6’s story.
Taking Control of the Vercetti Estate in GTA 6 Could Draw Some Familiar Faces Out of the Shadows
If Rockstar incorporates the Vercetti estate intoGTA 6’s story rather than simply including it as a callback for franchise fans, it could serve as the impetus for bringing someclassicGTAcharactersback into the fold. One character that would fit well with missions centered around the Vercetti estate would be Tommy’s former criminal lawyer and series mainstay, Ken Rosenberg. Last seen working withGTA: San Andreas’ protagonist Carl Johnson, an elderly Rosenberg could be back in Vice City trying to profit off the legacy of his former boss.
With Tommy Vercetti out of the picture, another figure vying for control of Vice City’s now-leaderless criminal underworld inGTA 6could beGTA: Vice City’s Mercedes. The wild child daughter ofGTA: Vice City’s Colonel Cortez, Mercedes could be attempting to reassemble the pieces of Tommy’s shattered criminal empire. Seizing the Vercetti estate would likely be good optics for Mercedes as she consolidated power in the city, setting up a potential showdown with players for control of Tommy’s former home.
It remains to be seen ifGTA 6will return to Vice Citybut, if Rockstar does go that route, it should ensure that one of the city’s most famous landmarks gets a second chance to shine. By incorporating the Vercetti estate intoGTA 6,Rockstar could pay tribute to the series’ past while also delivering some intriguing new gameplay and narrative twists to the franchise.
