GTA Tokyo: The Lost Grand Theft Auto Game That “Almost Actually Happened”

For decades, Grand Theft Auto fans have dreamed of the series leaving the United States to explore international cities. According to a former Rockstar Games veteran, that dream was nearly realized with a project set in Japan: GTA Tokyo.

In a new interview, Obbe Vermeij, the former technical director for GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, and GTA IV, revealed that a Tokyo-based entry in the franchise was more than just a rumor—it was a serious proposal involving an external developer.

How GTA Tokyo Almost Happened

Speaking to GamesHub, Vermeij explained that Rockstar North had concrete ideas for taking the series global. Locations like Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, and Istanbul were discussed, but Tokyo came the closest to entering full production.

“Tokyo almost actually happened,” Vermeij stated. “Another studio in Japan were going to do it, take our code and do GTA: Tokyo. But then that didn’t happen in the end.”

Unlike the core entries developed in-house by Rockstar North in Scotland, this spin-off would have been handled by a Japanese team, utilizing the existing Grand Theft Auto engine and code base to recreate the sprawling metropolis of Tokyo.

Why Was It Cancelled?

While Vermeij did not specify the exact reason the deal fell through, he offered insight into why Rockstar has since stuck to American cities like Liberty City (New York), Los Santos (Los Angeles), and Vice City (Miami).

The primary hurdles are scale and satire.

“You’re not going to get that [experimental location] when there’s a GTA every 12 years,” Vermeij noted, referring to the increasing development cycles required for modern AAA games. He also emphasized that the brand’s identity is deeply rooted in satirizing American culture, a tone that might not translate as effectively to other nations without a deep, native understanding of the setting.

Stuck in the USA?

Vermeij believes fans should expect the series to remain stateside for the foreseeable future.

“They’ll revisit New York again. They’ll go back to LA or maybe Las Vegas. I’m afraid we’re stuck in this loop of about five American cities. Let’s just get used to it.”

With Grand Theft Auto VI set to return players to Vice City in 2025, it seems the dream of drifting through Shibuya Crossing in a GTA game remains on hold—at least officially.