GTA 6: Guardian preview offers a look at the making of Vice City

How does Rockstar bring a game world like Vice City to life? Guardian journalist Keza MacDonald visited Rockstar North in Edinburgh to find out, speaking with GTA 6 development lead Rob Nelson and Rockstar executive Jennifer Kolbe. MacDonald has now shared some initial insights and impressions in the Pushing Buttons newsletter. A more detailed account of her visit is set to appear in The Guardian's Saturday Magazine on November 14.

Research trips to Miami began as early as 2015

According to Nelson, Rockstar starts by studying the real-world location before turning its attention to the game itself. That research then helps shape the story, characters and experiences the game will offer. Speaking to The Guardian, Nelson explained how the team familiarized itself with Miami. The first step, he said, is to immerse themselves in the place, its history and its atmosphere.

According to MacDonald, the first research trips took place back in 2015. Nelson recalled visiting clubs, spending time in bars in the Florida Keys and riding along with police officers through South Beach. Those experiences helped shape the development of GTA 6. What we've seen of Leonida so far has struck many fans as remarkably authentic. We recently reported on two buildings in GTA 6 that look almost identical to real houses in Georgia. Who knows? Perhaps one of Nelson's research trips even took him to the small town of Gay, Georgia.

Even a security guard's foot placement matters

During the gameplay demonstration, Nelson also highlighted the attention to detail in GTA 6 (available for pre-order on Amazon). Jason can eat a donut while walking and drink beer at the same time. When he starts running, he tucks a six-pack under his arm, with the liquid visibly sloshing around inside the bottles. MacDonald also recounts how Nelson took issue with the positioning of a security guard's feet during a jewelry store robbery. That particular anecdote has drawn considerable attention in a recent community discussion, suggesting that Rockstar pays close attention to convincing animations even for seemingly insignificant background characters. Some fans, however, are also hoping for fresh details about the story and gameplay mechanics. Whether the full Guardian feature will provide any remains to be seen