Many fans are probably replaying “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” ahead of the upcoming release of “Grand Theft Auto VI” — and why not. “Vice City” remains one of the greatest video games of all time, and a replay is always a good idea regardless of whether waiting for a new “GTA” entry is your lure or not. If you do revisit this masterpiece of the PlayStation 1 era, you’ll surely be impressed by the fact that, after more than two decades, “Vice City” holds up beautifully.
That’s a testament to the game’s design, which immersed us in Rockstar’s version of 1980s Miami. Sure, viewed in retrospect, the environments look sparse and take on an almost liminal aura. But at the time, “Vice City” was as close as an entire generation would ever get to living out a “Miami Vice” meets “Scarface” fantasy.
For those of us who played the original upon its 2002 release, the prospect of returning to Tommy Vercetti’s stomping grounds in 2026 is particularly exciting. Not only are we ready to be floored by Rockstar Games’ graphical updates, there’s a very real chance that many legendary “Vice City” locations will make a return in “GTA 6.”
Of course, technically, this latest installment is set in a different universe than the 2002 game. Rockstar’s original 2D Universe covers the games released between 1997 and 1999, while the 3D Universe — to which “Vice City” belongs — includes games from 2001 to 2006. The latest HD Universe comprises titles from 2008 to the present, and includes the upcoming “GTA 6.” But while these games belong to separate timelines, there’s no way Rockstar will neglect to include “Vice City” Easter eggs, and that almost certainly means we’ll be seeing some of the 2002 game’s most memorable locations making a return.
Ocean Drive
This one has already been all but confirmed, but it had to be on this list due to its significance to “GTA” history. Ocean Drive was the main beachfront strip in Vice City, and used the same name as its real-world South Beach, Miami equivalent. Home to many an art deco, neon-lit feat of architectural design, the strip provided the perfect place to cruise while blasting “Sunglasses At Night” and casually unloading an SMG. It was also the home of Tommy Vercetti’s first safe house and save spot: the Ocean View Hotel.
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