Grand Theft Auto has always been synonymous with American crime stories—Vice City’s neon-soaked Miami vibes, San Andreas’ West Coast gang culture, Liberty City’s gritty New York energy. But according to a former Rockstar developer, the franchise came surprisingly close to leaving the United States for the bustling streets of Tokyo.
In an exclusive interview with GamesHub, Obbe Vermeij—Rockstar North’s ex-technical director—dropped a bombshell: GTA: Tokyo was almost a real thing, and it wasn’t just wishful thinking. Rockstar had a Japanese developer lined up to make it happen.
GTA: Tokyo Was “Almost Actually Happening”
Here’s what Vermeij revealed:
“Tokyo almost actually happened. Another studio in Japan were going to do it, take our code and do GTA: Tokyo. But then that didn’t happen in the end.”
While Vermeij didn’t elaborate on why the project was scrapped or which Japanese studio was involved, the fact that Rockstar had a developer ready to go suggests this was a serious consideration, not just a brainstorming session.
What We Know (And Don’t Know):
- Development stage: Never officially began, but a Japanese studio was lined up
- Timeline: Vermeij didn’t specify when this almost happened (likely during the PS2 or early PS3 era)
- Why it was canceled: Unknown, though Vermeij hinted at Rockstar’s preference for safer, American-focused projects
- Which studio: Not disclosed
The idea of a Tokyo-based GTA is tantalizing. Imagine navigating narrow alleyways in Shibuya, chaotic street races through Shinjuku, Yakuza storylines, and Rockstar’s signature satire applied to Japanese pop culture. It would’ve been a massive departure—and potentially a franchise-defining moment.
Tokyo Wasn’t the Only International GTA Considered
Vermeij dropped another surprise: Tokyo was just one of multiple international locations Rockstar considered for Grand Theft Auto games.
Other Cities That Almost Got GTA Games:
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Imagine favela shootouts and Carnival chaos
- Moscow, Russia – Cold War intrigue meets post-Soviet organized crime
- Istanbul, Turkey – A bridge between Europe and Asia with rich cultural history
Each of these cities would’ve offered wildly different settings, tones, and crime narratives compared to the American cities Rockstar has stuck with for decades.
Why Rockstar Chose to Stay in America
So if Rockstar had all these ideas, why did they never pull the trigger? Vermeij offered a straightforward explanation:
“America is basically the epicenter of Western culture, so everybody knows the cities, even people who haven’t been there. They have a mental image of the cities.”
The Business Logic:
- Cultural familiarity: Players worldwide recognize New York, Los Angeles, Miami
- Lower risk: With budgets ballooning into the hundreds of millions, Rockstar played it safe
- Brand identity: GTA’s satirical take on American culture is core to its DNA
- Market appeal: American settings have proven commercially successful repeatedly
Vermeij’s reasoning makes sense from a business perspective. When you’re spending $100+ million (and now potentially $1+ billion for games like GTA 6), you want to maximize your audience. An American setting is a known quantity—Tokyo or Moscow would’ve been a gamble.
But that pragmatic approach also makes you wonder: What if Rockstar had taken the risk?
What Would GTA: Tokyo Have Looked Like?
While we’ll never know for sure, here’s what a Tokyo-based GTA could have featured:
Crime & Storylines:
- Yakuza organizations as the main criminal factions
- Kanjo street racing (illegal Tokyo highway racing scene)
- Hostess club culture and nightlife districts
- Corporate corruption and white-collar crime
- Underground fighting rings and gambling dens
Setting & Atmosphere:
- Shibuya Crossing chaos during rush hour
- Shinjuku’s neon-lit streets at night
- Tokyo Bay waterfront for smuggling operations
- Bullet trains for high-speed escapes
- Capsule hotels, pachinko parlors, and convenience stores as interactive locations
Gameplay Twists:
- Smaller cars reflecting Japanese automotive culture (goodbye muscle cars, hello tuners)
- Tighter streets requiring different driving mechanics
- Subway system as a major transportation method
- Japanese weapon culture (more melee weapons, fewer guns due to strict laws)
Rockstar’s Satirical Edge:
Imagine Rockstar’s sharp satire applied to:
- Japanese corporate culture and workaholism
- Idol culture and J-pop industry
- Anime and manga subcultures
- Tourist stereotypes
- East-meets-West cultural clashes
It would’ve been completely different from anything GTA had done before—and that’s exactly why it’s so intriguing.
Other Games Proved the Formula Works Internationally
While Rockstar stayed in America, other developers took the GTA formula global—and succeeded:
GTA-Like Games Set Outside America:
Sleeping Dogs (2012) – Hong Kong
- Undercover cop infiltrates the Triads
- Hong Kong’s neon streets and martial arts combat
- Critically acclaimed for its setting and story
Watch Dogs: Legion (2020) – London
- Near-future London under surveillance state
- British humor and culture
- Play as any NPC in the city
Mafia: The Old Country (2025) – Sicily
- Origins of the Italian mafia
- Early 1900s Sicily
- Franchise’s first non-American setting
These games prove that crime-focused open-world gameplay translates beautifully to international settings. Players don’t need American cities to enjoy the GTA formula—they just need interesting worlds to explore.
Would a Tokyo GTA Work Today?
With GTA 6 returning to Vice City (a fictionalized Miami), it’s clear Rockstar is sticking with its American roots. But could a Tokyo-set game work in 2026 and beyond?
Arguments For:
- Global gaming market: Japan is a massive gaming market that would embrace a Tokyo setting
- Fresh perspective: 30+ years of American GTA—time for something new
- Cultural exchange: Western studios successfully make Japanese-set games (Ghost of Tsushima, Like a Dragon)
- Modern technology: Current-gen hardware could render Tokyo in stunning detail
Arguments Against:
- Brand identity risk: GTA is synonymous with American satire
- Cultural sensitivity: Satirizing Japanese culture could backfire
- Development resources: Rockstar would need deep cultural consultants
- Financial risk: Why gamble when American settings are proven money-makers?
Realistic take: Rockstar will probably never make GTA: Tokyo. But a Japanese developer creating a spiritual successor using Rockstar’s formula? That could absolutely happen.
The Legacy of What Could Have Been
GTA: Tokyo remains one of gaming’s great “what ifs.” Along with Rio, Moscow, and Istanbul, these canceled concepts represent roads not taken—alternate timelines where Grand Theft Auto evolved differently.
Instead, Rockstar doubled down on what works: satirical American crime stories in meticulously crafted cities. That formula has made GTA one of the most successful franchises in entertainment history, so it’s hard to argue with the results.
But as GTA 6’s budget reportedly balloons past $1 billion and development cycles stretch to a decade, you can’t help but wonder: Could a leaner, more experimental GTA set in Tokyo have been just as impactful?
We’ll never know. But it’s fun to imagine racing through Shibuya at midnight, evading Yakuza hitmen while Rockstar’s satirical lens dissects Japanese pop culture.
Maybe in another universe, that game exists. In this one, we’ll have to settle for Vice City—again.
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