It has been revealed that the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series could have been set in Tokyo, Japan, rather than the United States.

Obbe Vermeij, a former Rockstar North developer who worked on major titles including GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas, shared this development secret in an interview with GamesHub on the 22nd. He stated that the possibility of the series expanding beyond the US to international locations was indeed discussed in the past.

According to Vermeij, the development team considered various cities around the world as potential settings for future titles, including Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, and Istanbul. The project set in Tokyo, in particular, reportedly reached the final stages of consideration. At the time, Rockstar explored the possibility of having a Japanese studio develop 'GTA: Tokyo' using existing code, but the plan was ultimately scrapped due to various circumstances.

He went on to explain the reality of the gaming industry, where the massive capital involved necessitates conservative decision-making despite the desire for innovation. He noted that when budgets reach billions of dollars, there is a strong tendency to follow proven formulas for success. Additionally, he analyzed that the US, as a hub of Western culture, possesses a familiar image even to those who have never visited, which significantly influences the choice of setting.

Regarding the future direction of the series, he considered it unlikely that unfamiliar cities like Bogota, the capital of Colombia, would be chosen. He expressed the view that as project scales and costs continue to rise, selecting an unconventional setting solely for the sake of novelty is irrational. He added that cities like Toronto would likely be excluded as they do not align with the unique atmosphere of the GTA series.