Almost everyGrand Theft Autogame is defined by its setting. Not only does it provide an open world for players to explore and pursue various criminal acts, but it sets the tone for the game’s narrative and gameplay opportunities. Rockstar has painstakingly recreated some of the most recognizable cities in the United States to great success in recent entries, but rarely has the developer ventured out of either the East or West Coast. While Liberty City, Los Santos, and Vice City have been excellent playgrounds for mayhem, there would be near-limitless potential forGrand Theft Autoto visit the state of Texas.
The Lone Star State is one that Rockstar is already familiar with, but in its more rootin' tootin' franchise,Red Dead Redemption. Rockstar’s Wild West depictions ofTexas inRed Dead Redemptionhave made perfect sense considering the state’s reputation for breeding outlaws many years ago, but a modern approach could be just as captivating in aGTAtitle. It’s been many years since fans of the franchise have been able to explore a truly original location, and while recent rumors thatGTA 6will bring back Vice City are exciting for many, bringing the series to Texas could create one of the most varied and entertaining installments yet.
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The Potential of an Open-World GTA Game in Texas
Rockstar loves a massive open world, and it created one of its most expansive, immersive worlds yet withGTA 5’s San Andreas. While the developer had a lot of land to work with when recreating Southern California, it would have a nearly untold amount of freedom to create a gargantuan open world using Texas' most iconic locations. Instead of focusing on just one major city, aGTAgame set in Texas could recreate any combination of Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin while filling in the space between each city with Texas wildlife. It would be ambitious, but a big state deserves a big game.
What Gameplay Could Look Like in a Texas-Based GTA Game
GTA 5has provided a mostly seamless gameplay experience that continues Rockstar’s reputation forgames with the best bullet-time combatand tight driving mechanics. IfGTA 6or any future game in the franchise were to explore Texas, it would have countless opportunities to go bigger and better with almost every aspect of gameplay. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and Rockstar could follow that mantra with an even wider arsenal of weapons for players to choose from. The developer could also pursue a greater variety of vehicles to tear up Texas highways with, from super cars to off-road options.
How Texas Could Fit Into Rockstar’s Signature Humor
Rockstar has never been afraid to useGTAgames to parodysome of the most prolific aspects of American culture. Whether it’s fast food chains or talk radio, theGTAfranchise has been the developer’s way of deftly satirizing life in the US. Texas is one of the most recognizable states in the US for both national and international audiences, and its penchant for being larger-than-life opens up many doors for Rockstar to employ its trademark humor. Whether it’s the dramatic cultural differences between cities like Austin and Fort Worth, or the oil tycoons that operate in the state,GTA’s writers could have a field day.
In almost everyGrand Theft Autotitle, the setting is as much of a character as any playable protagonist. From Liberty City’s skylines to San Andreas' stretching beaches, Rockstar knows how to craft a memorable open world. It seemsthe entire industry has its eyes onGTA 6after years of anticipation, and the general expectation is that players will venture through Vice City once again. If Rockstar really wants to do something unexpected, however, bringingGTAto Texas could open up some remarkable gameplay opportunities that raise the franchise to even greater heights.
Grand Theft Auto 6is currently in development.
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