Grand Theft Auto is a series whose satirical take on American society has become a trademark over the years. Despite the very American stories the games tell, the most American people involved with the games are usually the voice actors. Indeed, GTA developer Rockstar North is a British branch of Rockstar Games based in Edinburgh, and that fact sometimes leaks into Grand Theft Auto, where the American-inspired cities sometimes have references to Scottish landmarks. Aside from some minor Easter eggs, however, references to Scotland or even the UK as a whole are surprisingly limited in Grand Theft Auto.
The Grand Theft Auto series has tackled several of the big American cities in its satirical tour around the United States. Los Angeles, New York, and Miami, among others, were not spared. If the series’ stories stay in the United States, there are still plenty of cities left to parody. That being said, Grand Theft Auto has been rather stagnant for a while. The past decade only saw Grand Theft Auto 5, its numerous ports, and the polarizing Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. If Rockstar wants to spice things up, a future Grand Theft Auto game that takes place in the United Kingdom could be interesting.
The Potential of GTA in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is obviously a much smaller country than the United States, so there are far fewer options to settle with as far as metropolitan areas go. If a Grand Theft Auto game were to take place in the country, London would be the obvious pick. In fact, the series already tackled the city, but only in expansions for the original game. The city has a rich history that makes it one of the most significant in Europe. Due to Rockstar North’s Scottish roots, Edinburgh and Glasgow are also possible picks. The UK is the perfect country to continue the typical Grand Theft Auto storyline fans have come to appreciate, while remaining refreshing.
Being an English-speaking country like America already removes the burden of a language barrier, and the different accents and slang could provide material for the scripts, playing with the familiar and foreign aspects of British culture from an American perspective. The country’s famous roads, an inversion of what North Americans are used to, could provide a slightly different level design philosophy in Grand Theft Auto, whose car-related features are promoted in its name.
Criminal activity and the gangs founded around this activity are a major theme in Grand Theft Auto, if not the main theme. The Grand Theft Auto franchise takes inspiration from all kinds of American crime groups, from Los Angeles gangs to New York City's historic mafia. However, these cities’ crime scenes were not the first notorious ones. Indeed, London has its own history of famous crimes, and English mobsters might be as well known as their Italian, Irish, or even Russian counterparts. They have their spot in history, and Rockstar could use that to its advantage.
Ironically, a Grand Theft Auto game set in the United Kingdom could possibly put Rockstar North in a bigger comfort zone than before. The UK shares a language and some similarities with the US, but there are plenty of particularly British issues to explore through the satirical escapades of amoral criminals. A Grand Theft Auto 6 set in the UK could allow Rockstar North to explore its own roots and tackle issues that offer a different perspective from previous installments. After nearly a decade of working a game that deconstructs the Hollywood lifestyle and revisiting the game through rereleases and GTA Online updates, Rockstar North could use a new point of view.
The next Grand Theft Auto title is currently in development.