A futuristic Grand Theft Auto like GTA 2 is unlikely to happen, as the team felt it didn’t resonate with players.

Former Rockstar technical director Obbe Vermeij believes that a futuristic GTA installment is unlikely to happen anytime soon, primarily due to the negative experiences of developers during the creation of GTA 2.

Back in the day, GTA 2 took a bold leap into the future, set in the year 2013—or perhaps 1999, as Rockstar has been inconsistent on that detail. This installment introduced a range of futuristic elements to the game world of Anywhere City, allowing players to engage in the usual vehicular mayhem and gunplay, but with the addition of high-tech weaponry like electro guns.

In a conversation with an outlet, Vermeij was asked if he thinks the series will ever revisit a futuristic setting. He simply stated, “No. The team who made GTA 2 hated it.” He elaborated, “I wasn’t involved in those games, but my team was right next to them, so I heard all the frustrations and discussions. They really didn’t like the idea of moving into the future because it meant reinventing everything, from how weapons functioned to other gameplay mechanics.”

However, the developers’ dissatisfaction isn’t the only reason behind Vermeij’s stance. He pointed out that players didn’t connect with GTA 2 or its setting in the same way they did with the original game, suggesting that placing GTA in a futuristic context could be a significant misstep. Vermeij also emphasized that the series has evolved dramatically since 1999, stating, “GTA is just too valuable,” and while a futuristic setting could be interesting, it’s a risk that might not pay off.

He further noted, “The cultural impact of the series is far greater now than it was back then.” Vermeij added, “The game generates memes, discussions, and engagement. If it were set in some futuristic vision, I think you’d lose a lot of that.” While the Florida Man meme may be older than many current GTA Online players, its relevance to the upcoming GTA 6 is undeniable, especially when predicting future trends is so challenging.

Interestingly, the concept of GTA Tokyo “almost actually happened” before it ultimately fell through, with Vermeij commenting, “It doesn’t make sense to set it in some left-field location just for novelty.”