Grand Theft Auto VI’s Launch Trailer Invites Us Into a Very Different Florida
Florida has quite a bit of experience convincing people to step into another world. We’ve built a substantial portion of our economy around it. Usually, though, that world comes with a parking fee, a mouse ear themed snack, and at least one person reminding you to keep your hands inside the vehicle.
Rockstar’s version will only require a controller.
Today, Rockstar Games released the launch trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, ahead of the game’s highly anticipated November 19 arrival on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The return to Vice City brings players into the wider state of Leonida, where protagonists Jason and Lucia become entangled in a criminal conspiracy after what should have been a straightforward score goes wrong.
For us at Monorail News, there’s something particularly interesting about a massive virtual world taking inspiration from the state we call home. We spend much of our time covering places designed to make you believe, even briefly, that you’ve gone somewhere else. With GTA VI, I’m interested in what happens when that somewhere else looks an awful lot like somewhere down the road.
Rockstar’s approach to world-building should interest anyone who enjoys a well-designed theme park. Think about how much of a convincing themed environment exists outside its headline attraction. The storefronts, the music, the signs, and the suggestion that something is happening just beyond your view all contribute to the feeling that you’ve entered a place with a life of its own.
Will wandering through Leonida be compelling even when you aren’t advancing the story? Will its different communities have distinct personalities? Will the details reward the sort of aimless exploration that makes you lose an afternoon?
The launch trailer debuts “Flower in a Hurricane” by Justice, featuring Tame Impala, SZA, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. Justice also composed the game’s original score, and the single will appear on Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album. (rockstargames.com)
We’ll get to see how all those pieces come together on November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox.
