CBS News has examined the authenticity of Grand Theft Auto 6's Vice City, a fictionalized rendition of Miami. The Miami branch of CBS News has analyzed key locations and consulted with experts to assess the accuracy of Rockstar's open-world environment, covering areas from PortMiami and South Beach to Wynwood and the Everglades.
According to the report, players have identified over 100 real-world locations in Vice City that mirror actual sites in Miami. Among these is the Kaseya Center, the home arena of the NBA's Miami Heat. In a nod to the game's release, the Miami Heat will don Vice City-themed uniforms during an upcoming match.
The CBS News reporter noted the strong resemblance, stating that Vice City is "unmistakably Miami." Comparisons made in the report show gameplay footage alongside real-life street views, such as 15th and Biscayne in downtown Miami, where an overhead walkway in the game directly corresponds to its real-world counterpart.
Ocean Drive, an iconic Miami area recognizable from the original GTA: Vice City, is also featured, characterized by its vibrant neon lights and busy streets. The Breakwater Hotel in reality is represented as the Hotel Boardwalk in GTA 6, with a background hotel named Hotel Dixon, a clear reference to the Victor Hotel. Julie Fornary of the Miami Design Preservation League explained that the Victor Hotel, built in 1937 by architect L. Murray Dixon, inspired Rockstar's naming choice, serving as an homage to Miami locals.
The report commends Rockstar's meticulous attention to detail, noting how GTA 6 integrates Miami's distinctive art deco architecture with its contemporary skyline. The game's depiction of South Florida extends beyond its visual elements, capturing the city's spirit of character, culture, and adventure, themes that have been integral to Miami's history since its inception.
In-game, Florida is known as Leonida, and the GTA 6 map encompasses six distinct regions: Vice City, Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia, and Mount Kalaga National Park. The game will feature various activities, including kayaking, street and off-road racing, and air boating, alongside nightclub and beach gameplay.
Rockstar Games conducted extensive research across Florida for GTA 6, reportedly embedding themselves with gang members and law enforcement to capture the authentic atmosphere of the state. This immersion involved experiencing diverse areas, from affluent neighborhoods to more impoverished districts, all to distill Miami's essence into the game's sprawling open-world narrative.
GTA 6 is slated for release on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.