According to GameSpot, Rockstar North boss Rob Nelson stated that GTA 6 was not fully formed when its first trailer came out in December 2023. The Tom Petty song served as a mission statement for the team. Nelson also mentioned an early research trip to Vice City.
Trailer as Mission Statement
Nelson explained that the trailer helped rally the team despite the game not being complete at the time.
“With the first trailer for this game, the Tom Petty song was a real sort of mission statement.”
Vice City Research Trip
Developers traveled to the real Miami area shortly after deciding on the Vice City setting to feel the environment firsthand.
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