Grand Theft Auto will not be set in the future again after the failure of 'GTA 2'

The former technical director of Rockstar, Obbe Vermeij, has stated that fans of the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) franchise should not expect a futuristic game in the series in the near future. This statement is based on the negative experience that some developers had during the creation of GTA 2, a title that ventured into a futuristic setting that, according to Vermeij, was not well received.

Future, no. Dystopia, of course

Vermeij, who spoke in an interview with GamesHub, detailed that the team behind GTA 2 faced a tough task in trying to reinvent numerous game mechanics, especially regarding weapons and gameplay. “They were not happy with the idea of taking the game into the future”, he states, adding that the result was a lack of connection from the audience with the game compared to its predecessor, GTA.

“It could be a big mistake to set future installments in a futuristic context”, commented Vermeij, emphasizing the difference in the cultural impact that the series has today. “The franchise generates memes and conversations that might not exist in a futuristic setting”, he added, suggesting that a future setting could diminish the relevance of the series in current popular culture.

Additionally, Vermeij revealed that there were considerations to set a GTA game in Tokyo, but this concept was discarded, as it would not make sense to place it in a novel location solely for marketing reasons. In his words: “It doesn’t make sense to set it in a strange place just for novelty”. In summary, the developers seem to be more focused on maintaining the essence and connection of the series with its current player base than on exploring new futuristic directions.