Vice City 2002 vs GTA 6 Vice City: What's Back and What's Changed

GTA 6's Vice City isn't a remake of the 2002 original. Rockstar is taking Tommy Vercetti's city, frozen in 1986 somewhere between Scarface and Miami Vice, into present-day America and making it part of an entire state, Leonida. Ocean Beach and Flash FM are back, but the heroes, the era, the tone and some of the neighborhoods are new. Here's the detailed comparison, based strictly on what Rockstar has shown.

Vice City 2002 vs GTA 6 Vice City: how do they compare at a glance?

What was GTA Vice City about in 2002?

Released in late October 2002 on PlayStation 2, then in 2003 on PC and Xbox, GTA Vice City follows Tommy Vercetti, a Liberty City mobster released after 15 years in prison. His boss, Sonny Forelli, sends him to oversee a drug deal in Vice City. The deal turns into an ambush, the drugs and the money vanish, and Tommy has to get everything back before gradually taking over the city's criminal underworld.

The game wore its influences proudly: Scarface, Miami Vice, Carlito's Way, the cocaine boom and the glam metal era. Tommy, voiced by Ray Liotta, was the series' first truly talkative lead of the 3D era, surrounded by now-iconic supporting characters like crooked lawyer Ken Rosenberg, the volatile Lance Vance and drug lord Ricardo Diaz. Players could also buy up businesses, from the Malibu Club to a cab company, to build their empire. It was a massive hit, with around 17.5 million copies sold across all platforms by 2008.

What does GTA 6's Vice City look like?

As Rockstar puts it, the '80s are long gone, but Vice City is still America's capital of sun and fun: all the glamour, hustle and greed of America packed into one city. The key difference is scale. In 2002, Vice City was the whole playground. In GTA 6, it's the metropolis of an entire state, Leonida, surrounded by the Leonida Keys, the Grassrivers swamps, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga. Our GTA 6 map guide covers each of those regions in detail.

The tone has moved on too. Where the 2002 game recycled the imagery of '80s gangster movies, GTA 6 takes aim at modern Florida: the very first trailer was packed with nods to viral videos and social media. The new local figures reflect that shift: Boobie Ike, a Vice City legend who turned his criminal operation into a legitimate empire (real estate, the Jack of Hearts strip club and a recording studio); Dre'Quan Priest, co-founder of the Only Raw Records label; and the rap duo Real Dimez.

Which Vice City neighborhoods return in GTA 6?

The most obvious comeback is Ocean Beach. In 2002, it's where Tommy first set up shop, in a beachfront hotel. In GTA 6, Rockstar still describes it with pastel Art Deco hotels and white-sand beaches, modeled on Miami Beach.

Other places have evolved. Little Havana, the 2002 game's Cuban neighborhood, gives way to Little Cuba, whose bustling panaderías recall Miami's real Little Havana. The port, called Viceport in 2002, becomes the Port of Vice City, billed as the cruise capital of the world. Brand-new: Tisha-Wocka, with its flea market and knockoff goods. So far, Rockstar hasn't confirmed the return of Little Haiti, Vice Point, Washington Beach or Starfish Island, home to Tommy's mansion, so don't count on them just yet.

Tommy Vercetti or Jason and Lucia: who are Vice City's heroes?

Tommy Vercetti was a lone wolf who came to take over the city. GTA 6 bets on a couple. Lucia Caminos is fresh out of the Leonida Penitentiary, a striking parallel with Tommy, who was also just out of prison when his story began. Another echo: like Tommy, Lucia has ties to Liberty City, which she left with her mother. Jason Duval, an Army veteran, works for drug runners in the Leonida Keys.

Their goals are different, though. Tommy wanted to rule Vice City. Jason and Lucia, according to the official synopsis, mostly want to get out alive: after an easy score goes wrong, they're caught in a criminal conspiracy that spans the whole state and have to rely on each other to survive.

Flash FM and the radio: what's back in GTA 6?

GTA Vice City's soundtrack remains one of the most celebrated in gaming. Nine stations powered the city in 1986: Flash FM for pop, V-Rock and host Lazlow for hard rock, Wildstyle for hip-hop and electro, Fever 105 for disco and soul, Emotion 98.3 for power ballads, Wave 103 for new wave, Radio Espantoso for Latin sounds, plus the talk stations K-Chat and VCPR.

In GTA 6, Flash FM is back and still all about pop, but with new hosts, Robyn and Alex, in place of Toni. The other stations revealed on October 8, 2026 are all new: Cocoteo FM (modern Latin music), Back Country Radio (country), AfroBank FM (African music), The Chamber 106.6 (metal) and Dirty South Classics (Southern rap). Rockstar promises the largest and most diverse selection in the series, plus on-demand podcasts for the first time. The original score is by French duo Justice.

What does GTA 6 keep from the Vice City spirit?

Beyond the names, Rockstar is clearly leaning into nostalgia. The pre-order bonus is called the Vintage Vice City Pack, a nod to the neon era of the 2002 game, and the collector's box is named The Vice City Collection. The marketing has even spilled into real-life Miami, with the Miami Heat's "A Night in Vice City" game set for November 18, 2026, the night before launch. Pink and blue hues, palm trees and sunsets remain the city's visual signature. For the comparison with the previous mainline entry, check out our GTA 6 vs GTA 5 breakdown.

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