A Guardian studio visit in Edinburgh shows how Rockstar North built Vice City, from the first Miami trips in 2015 to tiny Jason animations.
The short version
A Guardian feature by Keza MacDonald, published at 3pm GMT on 11 November 2026, says Rockstar North developers first went to Miami for GTA 6 field research in 2015. Rob Nelson, described as one of the lead developers on GTA VI, showed small Jason animations during a day at the Edinburgh studio. The Guardian said on 11 November that more would follow in its Saturday magazine "later this week".
Quick answer
What did Rockstar tell the Guardian about GTA 6?
Rockstar North developers first went to Miami for GTA 6 field research in 2015, according to a Guardian feature by Keza MacDonald published at 3pm GMT on 11 November. Rob Nelson, described as "one of the lead developers on GTA VI", showed MacDonald small Jason animations at the Edinburgh studio, from eating a hot dog to sipping a beer.
Rockstar North's first research trips to Miami for GTA 6 were in 2015, according to a Guardian feature by Keza MacDonald published at 3pm GMT on 11 November.
What did Rob Nelson say about Miami?
The Guardian piece describes Rob Nelson as "one of the lead developers on GTA VI". Nelson says the early trips were about immersing the team in the place, its history and its vibe, before the research trips became "hyper-organised". That meant finding places to move the characters through, the experiences they would have, and "the juxtaposition between the extremes of society" in Miami.
Nelson remembers staying out in a Miami nightclub until 4am, and the Guardian says the team rode along with police in South Beach and visited bars in the Florida Keys.
What did the Guardian see at Rockstar North?
A few weeks before the feature ran, MacDonald spent a day at Rockstar North's headquarters in Edinburgh, where Nelson and Jennifer Kolbe, whom the Guardian calls a "fellow senior exec", took MacDonald through Vice City.
Asked by MacDonald whether Rockstar could ever set a GTA outside America, Nelson answered "Never say never, but there's still so much to do in America." Asked whether Rockstar's outsider status, as a studio based mostly outside the US, gives it a unique take on the country, Nelson said "I think we're all outsiders to this version of America."
Nelson's background is in character art and animation, the Guardian says, and the demo leaned on small details. Jason eats a hot dog. At a gas station, Jason takes bites of a donut in one hand while sipping a beer in the other. When Jason runs, a six pack of beers moves into the crook of an arm, with the liquid sloshing inside the bottles.
The Guardian puts that detail down to Rockstar's money and time and the patience of its parent company, Take Two Interactive, and says almost 5,000 people made the game.
Is there more from the Guardian?
Yes. The Guardian said on 11 November that readers could find more in its Saturday magazine "later this week". Rockstar's release date for GTA 6 is 19 November 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S. For the cast and the setting, see our characters guide and map guide.
thegta6news.com is a fan news site and is not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take Two Interactive.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Rob Nelson at Rockstar?
The Guardian calls Rob Nelson "one of the lead developers on GTA VI", with a background in character art and animation.
When did Rockstar start researching Miami for GTA 6?
The Guardian says Rockstar North developers first went to Miami for field research in 2015.
What GTA 6 animations did Rockstar show the Guardian?
Jason eating a hot dog, eating a donut while sipping a beer, and tucking a six pack of beers into the crook of an arm when running.
Is there more from the Guardian visit?
Yes. In its 11 November feature, the Guardian said more would appear in its Saturday magazine "later this week".
Sources
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