GTA 6 Devs Hit Strip Clubs and Beaches for Florida Research

Rockstar devs took multiple research trips to Florida for GTA 6, experiencing everything from strip clubs to the Everglades to capture the game's vibe.

Ever wondered what it takes to build a game as massive as GTA 6? For Rockstar, it apparently involves hitting up strip clubs and soaking up the Florida sun—all in the name of research.

In a chat with Game Informer, Rupert Humphries, senior vice president of narrative at Rockstar, spilled the beans on the team's extensive field trips to Florida. "We go and try to experience everything," he said, "from riding around areas at night with ex-cops, to going to strip clubs and nightclubs, spending time on the beach, in the Everglades, down in the Keys, and beyond." Sounds like a rough job, right?

These trips aren't just a one-time thing, either. The team has made multiple visits over the years to gather reference material for the game's setting of Leonida, which is basically Rockstar's fictionalized Florida. And while GTA's development is led by Rockstar North in Edinburgh, Scotland, you can bet those devs didn't mind trading Scottish drizzle for some Florida sunshine.

But before you get too jealous, remember that clubbing as a work activity might not be all it's cracked up to be. Plus, the game's story will take protagonists Jason and Lucia far beyond the beaches and nightlife. As Humphries puts it, "We don't have time to take you everywhere, but we want you to be able to explore and get a feel for most of the places, cultures, and vibes."

So why all this hands-on research? Because GTA 6 aims to capture the wild contrast that defines Florida—the rich and poor living side by side, with crime and corruption tying it all together. "This game and its stories really thrive in an environment where you have rich people and poor people right next door to each other," Humphries explained. "And crime and corruption is the thread that pulls everyone together."

Sure, plenty of studios go on research trips—the American Truck Simulator devs even visited a writer's dinky hometown—but when your game is set in a tourist hotspot like Vice City, the trips are bound to look a bit more glamorous. Still, as someone who's endured Missouri's suffocating humidity, I can't say I envy the Florida heat six months out of the year.

What do you think? Would you trade your office chair for a research trip to the Everglades? Let us know in the comments!