26 GTA 6 Screenshots Highlight the Evolution from Vice City

On Thursday, Rockstar Games unveiled the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, treating fans to an impressive nearly 30-minute gameplay trailer. The visuals are stunning and the scale is massive. This isn’t the first time the series has explored Vice City, Rockstar’s take on Miami, Florida. Back in 1999, GTA Vice City launched on the PS2 and quickly became a classic of its time. Now that we have our first look at GTA 6, it’s time to compare it to the iconic Vice City and see just how much Rockstar’s technology and graphics have evolved since then.

It’s no surprise that GTA 6 looks significantly better than GTA: Vice City. I’ve pulled some screenshots from the gameplay video to directly compare them with similar scenes from Vice City. Some images are from the PS2 version, while others come from the PC port of the classic 2002 title. The difference is truly remarkable. Let’s dive in and take a look.

One of my favorite comparisons showcases a rundown trailer park in Florida. With the capabilities of modern consoles and the RAGE engine, Rockstar has achieved a level of detail that brings their vision much closer to reality than what was possible in 2002.

Another standout comparison highlights the vibrancy of the dance clubs in GTA 6, which feel far more bustling and alive compared to the smaller Malibu Club in GTA Vice City.

It’s important to remember that GTA Vice City was groundbreaking for its time, and even now, seeing it run on a PS2 is impressive. However, it simply can’t compete with the visual fidelity of GTA 6. Additionally, it took about a year to develop Vice City, while GTA 6 has been in the works for nearly a decade.

To wrap things up, let’s look at how a police chase in 2002 stacks up against one in 2026. Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch in November on PS5 and Xbox.