Developer Worked on GTA for 14 Years, Now Explains Why a Player Wish for GTA 6 Is Hard to Implement

A former Rockstar developer explains why a community wish for GTA 6 is very difficult to implement properly. He references GTA San Andreas and GTA 4.

What is it about and who is the developer? Obbe Vermeij was at Rockstar for 14 years and worked as Technical Director on GTA 3, GTA Vice City, GTA San Andreas, and GTA 4. Recently, on X, the veteran was asked whether it is possible with the current state of technology to offer many explorable indoor areas in GTA 6. Many players wish for that.

In his response (via X), Vermeij admits that one might think such a thing is feasible. However, in his opinion, there is a challenge that makes implementation very difficult:

One might think that this should be possible. The problem with procedurally generated interiors, however, is that they often feel a bit similar. We tried this before for San Andreas and GTA 4, but ultimately gave up the idea.

The first trailer for GTA 6 makes you crave more:

Less is more

What does that mean? When it comes to a game with the dimensions of a GTA title, you have two options:

• You incorporate certain elements (like interiors) in large numbers into the game world but must procedurally generate a good part of them due to the enormous scale, which often makes them feel generic.
• You choose to design these elements by hand, but then can only offer a small number of explorable indoor areas.

A current example of this can be found in Elden Ring. The main game had a fairly large number of dungeons, but they only had a few design “themes” and quickly felt similar. In the expansion Shadow of the Erdtree, there are significantly fewer dungeons, but they offer more distinct features.

More about GTA 6:

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Since Obbe Vermeij is not involved in the development of GTA 6 and his assessment is based on experiences with San Andreas and part 4, it is, of course, still possible that GTA 6 could have many hand-designed indoor areas. If anyone has the team strength, money, and ambition to deliver something of high quality, it is Rockstar: Hacker reveals insane amount that GTA 6 has already cost – Allegedly 4 times more expensive than Red Dead Redemption 2