Key information
Ahead of GTA 6's release next month, an exclusive interview with Love Magazine has provided insight into Rockstar Games' development process and its immersive research methods for building the game's rendition of Florida.
According to head of development Aaron Garbut, research trips begin with a small group scouting locations and stories before larger teams join later. The studio's staff traveled from Miami through surrounding towns and the Florida Keys down to Key West, with Garbut documenting the journeys extensively.
Rockstar's immersive approach involved engaging directly with local culture by spending time with both law enforcement officers and gang members to understand extreme contrasts in wealth, poverty, and lifestyle.
To ensure long-term relevance over hundreds of hours of exploration, GTA 6 avoids specific real-world viral references that could date the title. Instead, the game's satire centers on modern culture, conspiracy theories, and societal reactions.
