GTA 6: Miami was reportedly set to become a real-life Vice City, but sheriff objects

GTA 6 (available for pre-order on Amazon) is famously set in Leonida – Rockstar's satirical version of Florida. So where better to promote the game than in the real Miami-Dade County? Rockstar apparently had the same idea and proposed a paid marketing partnership with the local government.

According to a report by the Miami Herald, local officials then came up with some rather interesting ideas: Travelers could be greeted with “Welcome to Vice City” messages at Miami International Airport, while Metromover trains decked out in GTA branding could travel through the city. Large billboards and even Vice City logos on manhole covers were reportedly discussed as well. However, some officials apparently aren't too keen on the Vice City vibes.

Sheriff doesn't want Miami marketed as a crime capital

Among those pushing back is Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, who points out that the GTA series heavily features murder, robbery, drug trafficking, car theft and violence against police officers – the very crimes her department fights every day. According to the Miami Herald, Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez also considers the campaign questionable. “Miami-Dade County has spent decades building a reputation as a world-class destination for tourism, business, investment, and opportunity” and should focus on presenting that image rather than a fictional, crime-ridden version of the region, the politician argues. Whether the criticism means the campaign is ultimately dead remains unclear. A deal between Rockstar and Miami-Dade has so far neither been confirmed nor officially rejected.

GTA fans react with disbelief

On Reddit, the criticism has largely been met with disbelief. Many users say it reminds them of the old debates over violence in video games, joking that Miami has already been portrayed as a crime capital for decades in movies and TV shows such as Scarface, Miami Vice and Dexter. However, there are also some users who understand the concerns: They argue that there is a difference between Rockstar using Miami as inspiration and the city officially marketing itself as the “real-life Vice City.” Opinions on the topic are welcome in the comments section.