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July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
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How It Works • Games & Tech

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is a 2002 action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is a 2002 action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North. It is the fourth main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, set in 1986 in the fictional Vice City based on Miami.

What it is

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is an open-world action-adventure game played from a third-person perspective. Players complete story missions and free-roam activities while building their influence in Vice City’s criminal underworld. The game is part of the series’ 3D-era and is known for its 1980s neon-soaked aesthetic.

Setting and story

The game takes place in Vice City, a fictional metropolis modelled on Miami in 1986. Its coastal design and culture draw heavily on 1980s Florida crime and nightlife. The story follows Tommy Vercetti, released from prison and sent to Vice City after a botched drug deal. He searches for those responsible while gradually establishing his own criminal empire.

Release and impact

Released in 2002, Vice City first debuted on PlayStation 2 before arriving on PC and mobile platforms. It became one of the best-known entries in the Grand Theft Auto series and has a significant Canadian audience as part of the globally popular franchise.

In short

  • Fourth main game in the Grand Theft Auto series.
  • Set in 1986 Vice City, based on Miami.
  • Player controls Tommy Vercetti rising in the criminal underworld.
  • Open-world action-adventure with a third-person perspective.
Canadian angle

The game has had a significant Canadian audience as part of the globally popular Grand Theft Auto franchise, but it has no specific Canada-only setting or narrative focus in the available sources.

Quick questions

What is Grand Theft Auto: Vice City?
It is a 2002 action-adventure video game in the Grand Theft Auto series, developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games.
When is the game set?
The game is set in 1986.
Where does the game take place?
It takes place in Vice City, a fictional city based on Miami, Florida.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto:_Vice_City
    Supports: Developer, publisher, release year, series position, setting, protagonist, and plot overview.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto
    Supports: Vice City’s basis on Miami and its place in the broader series setting.
  3. Simple English Wikipedia — https://www.simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto:_Vice_City
    Supports: Release year, platform history, genre, third-person view, and Miami-based setting.
  4. IGN — https://www.ign.com/games/grand-theft-auto-vice-city
    Supports: Release timing and general gameplay details such as era-specific vehicles and music.