Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto franchise has been a cornerstone of gaming for over two decades. Following their original incarnations as top-down arcade experiences as recently as 1997 and 1999, GTA then underwent a massive evolution in scale and design. Starting with GTA 3the series boldly paved the way for immersive open worlds, realistic cinematic presentations, and exceptional gameplay storytelling. Along with iterating and refining its signature anarchic gameplay, these elements were further refined and reflected in the studio's follow-up to the groundbreaking third volume, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. As a result, the series gained its reputation and established itself as a juggernaut in the industry, making its presence known with each new release ever since, until now, when fans eagerly await the next entry.
And while 2025 saw the release of some incredible games, including the highly touted ones Clair Obscur: Expedition 33long awaited Hollow Knight: Silksongand innovative surprises like Blue Prince (among many other excellent titles) the year was also full of disappointments. Probably the most notable of these was Grand Theft Auto 6 get more delay. Originally announced in 2022 and scheduled to launch in 2025, GTA 6 it's now listed as coming out on November 19th, 2026. And with that wait until early 2026, there's a list of great reasons why fans should come back GTA: Vice City before the sixth numbered entry falls.
A brief history of GTA: Vice City
After GTA 3 changed the gaming environment in 2001, all eyes were on Rockstar to itself. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City it was released a year later for PS2 and was later ported to PC in 2003 and Xbox in 2004. GTA 3 before that Vice City faced controversy for its depiction of realistic violence and accusations of “glamorizing crime”, hot spots at a time when gaming was moving into more mature territory. But it also brought Rockstar's signature style to the fore and Vice City was a huge critical and commercial success. Some of his honors include:
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Breaking records as the fastest selling game at the time, moving 500,000 copies in 24 hours and 1.4 million in two days.
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Leading the 1st British Academy Games Awards with eight nominations and six.
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Winning Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards.
Why GTA: Vice City holds up so well
While Grand Theft Auto 3 broke ground and set a new bar for open world design and storytelling, Vice City further elevated this formula. It improved and perfected the established mechanics and Vice City it is often considered the superior title between the two. Based in 1986-era Miami, Florida, with palm trees and neon-lined streets, Vice City is livelier and more extravagant than GTA 3's Liberty City. Vice CityThe story captured the themes of the series very well with many memorable missions and moments. Vice City it was the pinnacle of its genre in its time and still holds up incredibly today.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City features a relatable yet morally complex main character who was the first to be fully voiced in the franchise. Tommy Vercetti is played by Ray Liotta, known for his previous roles in popular crime films, and gives a perfect performance as the main character. Liotta was joined by other high-profile celebrities to round out GTA: Vice City's cast of memorable and colorful characters that Tommy interacts with and completes various tasks for:
|
Actor |
Character |
Role in Vice City |
|
Philip Michael Thomas |
Lance Vance |
A ranking member of the Vance crime family |
|
Tom Sizemore |
Sonny Forelli |
Head of the Forelli crime family |
|
Vilém Fichtner |
Ken Rosenberg |
A ruthless lawyer and Tommy's contact on Forelli |
|
Robert Davis |
Colonel Juan Cortez |
Retired Central American colonel and drug trafficker |
|
Burt Reynolds |
Avery Carrington |
A real estate titan |
|
Dennis Hopper |
Steve Scott |
Film director |
|
Danny Trejo |
Umberto Robina |
Leader of the Cuban gang Little Havana |
|
Fairuza Balk |
Mercedes Cortez |
Free-spirited daughter of Colonel Cortez |
|
Luis Guzman |
Ricardo Diaz |
Gun collector and head of a private militia |
|
Gary Busey |
Phil Cassidy |
Weapons dealer |
|
Jenna James |
Candy Suxxx |
Adult entertainer |
Philip Michael Thomas is of particular interest as he has a fitting involvement with the game. Thomas starred as a detective in the 1980s cop show Miami Vicewhich the game also apparently draws much of its inspiration from. Lance remains one of the most iconic GTA characters next to Tommy. Their relationship and dynamics as they change from reluctant partners, to friends, to sworn enemies form the main core of the plot. GTA: Vice CityThe story combined with its signature gameplay and presentation make it an enduring classic.
GTA: The Trilogy – The definitive edition was a big hurdle in the way
in 2021 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Editiondeveloped by Grove Street Games, was released. A collection tied together GTA 3, Vice Cityand San Andreas. Modernized and improved some QOL features, such as redesigned controls, better minimap, and mission restarts. However, other parts were found to be poorly implemented and the package was marred by performance and graphics issues. Many fans and critics have cited them as inferior versions compared to the originals. It took three years and numerous revisions to fix some of the most serious problems and bugs GTA: Definitive editionlike bad weather effects. But eventually it was ironed out and the experience was adjusted to better standards.
Why GTA: Vice City Replay Makes So Much Sense in 2026
GTA 6 probably sits at the top of the list of the most anticipated games of 2026. And while it is possible GTA 6 will be further delayed, the surrounding hype is unlikely to die down regardless of when it actually launches. Along with an interesting story that is supposed to center around a Bonny and Clyde type couple, GTA 6 returns to Vice Cityiconic environment. Seeing how the city will look and feel 20+ years later and in modern generation graphics is incredibly appealing and one of the biggest and most obvious reasons to go back to the original, especially now.
GTA 6 it will also potentially contain some of them Vice City's cast. It is not yet clear whether and to what extent this is the case. But GTA: Vice City it stands as a complete classic in its own right. And as players look forward to what the upcoming title has in store, there's no better time for longtime fans (or those who haven't played it) than this year to jump into the original and experience where it all started again or for the first time.
