GTA 6 development, Digi Mart USA News: Guardian journalist Keza MacDonald visited Rockstar North in Edinburgh and spoke with GTA 6 development lead Rob Nelson and Rockstar executive Jennifer Kolbe about how the studio brings a game world such as Vice City to life. Initial impressions were shared in the Pushing Buttons newsletter, with a more detailed account set to appear in The Guardian’s Saturday Magazine on November 14.
According to Nelson, Rockstar begins by studying the real-world location before turning to the game itself, and that research helps shape the story, characters and experiences the game will offer. Speaking to The Guardian, he said the team first immerses itself in the place, its history and its atmosphere, using Miami as the reference point.
MacDonald reported that the first research trips took place in 2015. Nelson recalled visiting clubs, spending time in bars in the Florida Keys and riding along with police officers through South Beach, experiences that he said helped shape the development of GTA 6.
During a gameplay demonstration, Nelson highlighted small details in the game’s animations and behaviour. According to MacDonald’s account, the character Jason can eat a donut while walking and drink beer at the same time, and when he runs he tucks a six-pack under his arm, with the liquid visibly sloshing inside the bottles.
MacDonald also recounts that Nelson took issue with the positioning of a security guard’s feet during a jewelry store robbery, an anecdote the publisher says reflects Rockstar’s attention to convincing animation even for background characters.
The source notes that some fans are hoping for fresh details about the story and gameplay mechanics, and states that it remains to be seen whether the full Guardian feature will provide them.
