Why GTA Tokyo and Moscow Never Happened: Rockstar Games Reveals Secret International Plans

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to cause chaos on the neon lit streets of Tokyo or navigate the snowy avenues of Moscow in a Grand Theft Auto game? It turns out that you are not the only one. For years, gamers have been dreaming of a GTA Tokyo or a GTA Rio, and as it happens, Rockstar Games was actually thinking about it too. According to some fascinating new insights from a former high ranking developer, the studio seriously considered taking the franchise global before ultimately deciding to stick with what they know best.

The Secrets Behind GTA Tokyo and Other Lost Cities

In a revealing conversation with GamesHub, Obbe Vermeij, the former technical director at Rockstar Games who worked on legendary titles like GTA 3 and San Andreas, shared some major "what if" moments. He mentioned that the team had plenty of ideas for setting the games in places like Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, and even Istanbul. Out of all these international locations, GTA Tokyo actually came the closest to reality. Vermeij noted, “We had ideas about GTA games in Rio de Janeiro, Moscow and Istanbul. Tokyo almost actually happened. Another studio in Japan was going to do it, take our code and do GTA: Tokyo. But then that didn't happen in the end.”

Why Rockstar Games Chose the USA Over International Maps

So, why did we end up staying in America instead of hopping on a virtual plane to Japan or Russia? It really comes down to the sheer scale of the franchise and the risks involved. When a series becomes a multi billion dollar powerhouse, every decision is scrutinized. Vermeij explained that the comfort of the American setting is a huge safety net for the developers. He stated, “when you've got billions of dollars riding on it, it's too easy to go let's do what we know again, and also 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.” This cultural familiarity makes it much easier for a global audience to connect with the game world.

The Risk of Moving GTA Tokyo to a New Setting

Setting a game in a brand new country involves more than just changing the buildings and the language. It changes the entire DNA of the experience. According to Vermeij, American cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Miami provide a recognizable backdrop that reduces commercial risk. While the idea of a GTA Tokyo sounds incredible to hardcore fans, Rockstar Games felt that the American vibe was essential to the brand. The developer suggested that when you are dealing with projects of this size, it is natural to fall back on a formula that is proven to work. This is why we see the series revisiting iconic locations like Vice City in the upcoming GTA 6.

Will We Ever See a GTA Rio or Moscow?

While many players hold out hope for a GTA Rio or an adventure in Bogota, the reality of modern game development makes this feel like a long shot. Each new GTA title now takes nearly a decade to build, which means Rockstar Games has to be incredibly careful about where they place their bets. Vermeij believes the series is now effectively in a loop of about five major American cities. He argued that even if players have seen the city before, the massive leaps in technology and storytelling make each visit feel fresh. Plus, as Rockstar co founder Dan Houser once mentioned, the specific brand of satire, crime, and gun culture found in GTA is deeply tied to an American worldview.

The Legacy of the GTA Tokyo Project

Even though the GTA Tokyo project was eventually shelved, it remains one of the most intriguing pieces of gaming history. The plan was for a Japanese studio to use Rockstar's internal tech to build a localized version of the world, but the deal fell through before it could move past the early stages. For now, the 1990s expansion GTA London remains the only time the franchise has officially stepped outside the United States. As we look forward to the return to Vice City, we can only imagine how different the gaming landscape might look today if Rockstar Games had decided to take that leap into the streets of Tokyo or Moscow all those years ago.