God, I'm still not over the delay announcement. May 2026?! I was already planning my sick days for fall 2025, had the energy drinks stockpiled and everything. But here we are—another year of waiting while Rockstar polishes what might be the most anticipated game in history.
While we're all stuck in this painful holding pattern, I've been obsessing over the GTA 6 map like it's my second job. I've actually visited Miami four times since the trailer dropped (my wallet hates me), walking around with screenshots on my phone trying to match locations. My girlfriend thinks I've lost it. She's probably right.
Vice City: Miami's Glorious, Crime-Filled Twin
Let's start with the obvious—Vice City is Miami. The downtown skyline in the trailer is practically a carbon copy of the real thing. I was there back in 2019 for a friend's bachelor party (don't ask what happened), and standing on Biscayne Boulevard looking at those gleaming towers gave me serious déjà vu from the trailer.
This is where we'll spend most of our time in GTA 6, pulling off heists, evading cops, and probably getting into ridiculous shootouts that would make Michael Bay jealous.
Where the Beautiful People Play
Miami Beach transforms into Vice City Beach, with all those colorful art deco buildings and lifeguard stands that scream "Instagram me!" The beach strip looks exactly like the real Ocean Drive, down to teh neon signs and overpriced cocktail bars.
I can already imagine cruising down this strip in whatever the GTA 6 version of a Lamborghini is, music blasting, before inevitably crashing into a palm tree because I was texting while driving. Classic me.
Konica Keys (AKA Florida's Island Paradise)
The Florida Keys become "Konica Keys" in the game—a string of tropical islands connected by those iconic bridges. I drove the Seven Mile Bridge once. Terrifying with my fear of heights, but worth it for the views.
This area looks like it'll be the perfect escape when Vice City gets too hot. I'm betting there'll be some boat-based missions here. Maybe smuggling runs? Rockstar loves their smuggling missions.
Just one perfect spot to hide from the cops after you've reached that dreaded five-star wanted level.
From Kaseya to Sahara
The Kaseya Center (home of the Miami Heat) becomes the "Sahara Arena" in GTA 6. In the trailer, you can see it's home to the Vice City Narcos basketball team. Nice touch, Rockstar.
I watched a UFC fight there in 2022. Paid $340 for nosebleed seats and couldn't see a damn thing. Still better than watching at home though.
Nightlife That Never Sleeps
Miami's infamous E11EVEN club—you know, the one that literally never closes—becomes "NINE 1 NINE" in the game. If you've been to the real place, you know it's... an experience. I lost $200 and my dignity there in one night back in 2018.
The game version even has those airplane banner ads flying over the beach, just like the real E11EVEN does. I wonder if they'll include the, uh, "entertainment" that makes the real club so notorious. Probably toned down for the ratings board, but who knows with Rockstar.
The Tower Where Rich People Do Rich People Things
Tresor Tower, part of the Fontainebleau complex on Collins Avenue, makes an appearance in the game. Some eagle-eyed Reddit user spotted it in the trailer.
I've never been inside—they don't let people like me through the door. But I've walked past it and felt poor, which I assume is the intended effect.
That Famous Street Everyone Recognizes
Ocean Drive. If you've seen any movie set in Miami, you know it. Palm trees, neon lights, art deco buildings, convertibles cruising by.
The game version looks spot-on. I spent an afternoon there last summer melting in the heat while paying $18 for a watered-down mojito. Worth it? Debatable. Will I chase someone down this street in the game while firing wildly? Absolutely.
That Weird Village with the Giant Lobster
Rain Barrel Village in the Keys—with its massive lobster sculpture—gets the GTA treatment too. It's one of those quirky roadside attractions that somehow becomes a must-see when you're in the area.
I stopped there on a road trip in 2021. Bought an overpriced t-shirt and took the obligatory photo with the lobster. Tourist trap? Yes. But the kind of weird Americana that GTA loves to parody.
Bridges, Bridges Everywhere
The Venetian Causeway connecting Miami to Miami Beach appears in Vice City too. It's a series of bridges spanning Biscayne Bay that offers some gorgeous views.
This will definitely be where some of the game's most epic police chases happen. I can already feel the anxiety of trying to outrun cops while dodging oncoming traffic on these narrow bridges.
Where Bad Guys End Up (Temporarily)
Florida State Prison becomes "Leonida State Prison" in the game. I've never been inside—thankfully—but its inclusion suggests we might have some prison-break missions.
Or maybe one of our protagonists starts there? The trailer didn't give much away about the prison's role, but Rockstar wouldn't include it without a reason.
A City Past Its Prime
Panama City transforms into "Port Gellhorn" in GTA 6. It's depicted as a decaying coastal town that's seen better days.
I drove through the real Panama City after Hurricane Michael hit in 2018. The devastation was unreal. Looks like Rockstar might be capturing some of that post-disaster atmosphere, mixed with the economic decline many Florida towns have experienced.
Swamps and Gators and Airboats, Oh My!
The Everglades—called "Grassrivers" in the game—look appropriately vast and wild. Expect airboat rides, alligator encounters, and probably some drug operations hidden deep in the swamps.
I did an airboat tour there once. Our guide was this 70-year-old guy who kept handling gators with his bare hands while telling us not to try it ourselves. "Lost three fingers already," he said, completely serious. Florida, man.
Just imagine the chaos of a police chase through these wetlands. Pure GTA gold.
Where the Bikers Roam
Clewiston becomes "Ambrosia" in GTA 6—an industrial area with a strong biker gang presence. Think factories, scrapyards, and lots of opportunities for trouble.
Never been to the real Clewiston, but from what I've seen in the trailer, Ambrosia looks like the perfect place to recruit some unsavory characters for whatever criminal enterprise we'll be building.
Listen. The wait until 2026 is killing me. I've already watched the trailer 47 times (I counted). But seeing how meticulously Rockstar is recreating Florida makes me think the delay might actually be worth it.
Until then, I'll be here, studying the map like it's going to be on the final exam, and probably booking another trip to Miami that I can't afford.
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