A City Built on Cocaine and Sunshine
Vice City is more than a location in a video game. It's a cultural artifact — a distilled version of Miami at its most excessive, dangerous, and glamorous. Across nearly three decades and multiple games, Rockstar has returned to this neon-drenched paradise again and again, each time finding new stories to tell against its palm-lined boulevards and art deco facades.
With GTA 6 bringing players back to Vice City for the first time in 20 years, there's never been a better time to trace the history of gaming's most iconic fictional city.
The Real Miami Behind Vice City
🌴 From Miami to Vice City
Vice City has always been Rockstar's love letter to Miami. The city's name itself is an homage to the 1984 TV series Miami Vice, which Rockstar has cited as a major creative influence. Producer Leslie Benzies once described Miami as "a party town, all sun and sea and sex, but with that same dark edge underneath" — a perfect fit for GTA's satirical lens.
The 1980s were Miami's most dramatic decade. The cocaine trade transformed the city into America's drug capital, with billions flowing through port facilities and private airstrips. The so-called "cocaine cowboys" — smugglers who turned violence into spectacle — became the stuff of legend. Meanwhile, Miami's cultural landscape was exploding: Art Deco preservation on South Beach, the Cuban-American community reshaping Little Havana, and Miami Vice turning the city into a global fashion symbol.
Films like Scarface (1983) and Miami Vice (1984–1990) cemented Miami's dual identity — paradise on the surface, chaos underneath. Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser acknowledged this directly, once noting that the game drew from "Scarface, Miami Vice, and our '80s childhoods."
1997 — Vice City's First Appearance
Grand Theft Auto (Original)
Vice City first appeared as one of three playable cities in the original top-down Grand Theft Auto. Alongside Liberty City and San Andreas, it was one of the pillars of the franchise from day one. In this primitive form, Vice City was a simple 2D map — but the name, the tropical setting, and the criminal underworld were already in place.
The original Vice City was divided into several districts and captured the essence of a sun-soaked criminal playground, even within the severe technical limitations of 1997 hardware.
2002 — The Defining Moment
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
This is the game that made Vice City immortal. Released in October 2002 — just one year after the revolutionary GTA III — Vice City transported players to a fully 3D recreation of 1986 Miami. You played as Tommy Vercetti, a Mafia enforcer sent to Vice City to oversee a drug deal that goes spectacularly wrong.
What followed was one of gaming's greatest stories: Tommy's rise from hired muscle to crime lord, buying up properties, building an empire, and ultimately betraying everyone who underestimated him. Voiced by Ray Liotta, Tommy became an icon — the embodiment of '80s excess filtered through Rockstar's razor-sharp satire.
But the real star was the city itself. Rockstar recreated Miami with obsessive detail: the Art Deco hotels of Ocean Beach (mirroring Miami's South Beach), Little Havana's Cuban community, the opulent mansions of Starfish Island (based on Star Island), and the neon-drenched strip clubs and malls that defined '80s excess. The map featured two main islands and several smaller ones, closely mirroring Miami's real geography.
And then there was the soundtrack. Vice City's radio stations — featuring Michael Jackson, Flock of Seagulls, Hall & Oates, Judas Priest, and dozens more — became arguably the most beloved game soundtrack ever assembled. The music didn't just accompany the gameplay; it defined it.
2006 — The Prequel
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Developed by Rockstar Leeds for the PSP (later ported to PS2), Vice City Stories took players back to 1984 — two years before Tommy Vercetti's arrival. You played as Vic Vance, a soldier drawn into the criminal underworld after being dishonorably discharged from the military.
The game featured a slightly different version of Vice City, with some buildings and landmarks in earlier stages of development, cleverly reflecting the two-year time difference. A notable new feature was the Empire Building system, where players could acquire and manage businesses across the city.
While it didn't match the cultural impact of the original Vice City, Vice City Stories proved that the setting had stories left to tell — and that fans would always come back to those neon-lit shores.
2021 — The Controversial Remaster
GTA: The Trilogy — Definitive Edition
Vice City returned as part of the Definitive Edition trilogy, which promised updated graphics and modern controls for GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas. The reception was... rough. Outsourced to Grove Street Games, the remaster was plagued by visual glitches, rain effects that obscured gameplay, and character model changes that many felt stripped the originals of their charm.
Despite the rocky launch, the Definitive Edition introduced Vice City to a new generation of players and reminded everyone how special the original game was. Patches eventually improved the experience, but the remaster served as an unintentional reminder: fans were hungry for a real return to Vice City.
2026 — The Triumphant Return
Grand Theft Auto VI
Twenty years after Vice City Stories, GTA 6 brings players back to Vice City — but this isn't a nostalgia trip. Set in a modern-day version of the city within the fictional state of Leonida, GTA 6's Vice City is a sprawling, living world that extends far beyond the original game's two-island layout.
The trailers reveal a city transformed: towering skyscrapers alongside familiar Art Deco architecture, sprawling suburbs, swampland, rural highways, and beaches that stretch for miles. For the first time, Vice City exists within a larger geographic context — Leonida is Rockstar's fictional Florida, giving the setting depth and scale that the original could only dream of.
The story follows dual protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos in a Bonnie-and-Clyde-inspired criminal partnership. Lucia is the first playable female protagonist in mainline GTA history — a historic milestone. The narrative appears to weave through Vice City's criminal hierarchy, from street-level hustling to high-stakes heists.
Take-Two has stated that they want the GTA 6 world to keep evolving after launch, hinting at a Vice City that grows and changes over time. If Rockstar delivers on this promise, Vice City could become the most dynamic open world ever created.
How Vice City Evolved
| Feature | 1997 (GTA 1) | 2002 (Vice City) | 2026 (GTA 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perspective | Top-down 2D | 3D third-person | Next-gen 3D, enhanced first-person |
| Map Scope | Basic city grid | 2 main islands + 3 smaller | Full state of Leonida |
| Time Period | Contemporary | 1986 | Modern day |
| Protagonist | Unnamed | Tommy Vercetti | Jason Duval & Lucia Caminos |
| Online Mode | None | None | GTA Online 2.0 expected |
Why Vice City Endures
Among GTA's three recurring cities — Liberty City (New York), San Andreas/Los Santos (LA/California), and Vice City (Miami) — Vice City occupies a unique place in fans' hearts. It's the most stylish, the most musically rich, and the most emotionally charged. There's something about the combination of tropical beauty and criminal darkness that feels uniquely GTA.
The 20-year gap since players last explored Vice City has only heightened the anticipation. A generation of gamers grew up with Tommy Vercetti's story, and now they'll experience a completely reimagined version of the same city through Jason and Lucia's eyes. The nostalgia factor is immeasurable — but GTA 6's Vice City isn't trading on nostalgia alone. It's building something entirely new on legendary foundations.
Vice City FAQ
What city is Vice City based on?
Vice City is based on Miami, Florida. The name is an homage to the 1980s TV series Miami Vice. The city's geography, neighborhoods, architecture, and cultural atmosphere all draw heavily from real-life Miami.
How many GTA games feature Vice City?
Vice City has appeared in four GTA titles: the original GTA (1997), Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002), Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006), and Grand Theft Auto VI (2026). It was also included in the 2021 Definitive Edition remaster.
Is GTA 6's Vice City the same as the 2002 version?
No. GTA 6 takes place in the HD Universe — a separate canon from the older 3D Universe games. While both are inspired by Miami, GTA 6's Vice City is a completely new, modern-day interpretation with a vastly larger map encompassing the entire fictional state of Leonida.
Will Tommy Vercetti appear in GTA 6?
Extremely unlikely. Tommy Vercetti exists in the 3D Universe canon, while GTA 6 takes place in the HD Universe. These are separate continuities, so a direct appearance isn't expected — though Easter egg references are possible.
Updated April 2026. A love letter to 29 years of Vice City. We'll continue updating as Rockstar reveals more about GTA 6's version of gaming's greatest city.