Rockstar definitely researching Hollywood

By Robert Purchese Published 26 July, 2010

Eurogamer source fuels GTA V rumour.

Eurogamer has learned from an independent source that Rockstar is ramping up research on locations around Hollywood.

Earlier today we heard that Tinseltown could well be the setting for Grand Theft Auto V.

Our source could not say whether the research was specific to the GTA series.

Game maker Rockstar told Eurogamer it doesn't comment on "rumour or speculation".

Watford would be a better setting, obviously.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (54) 1 year ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #1 2 years ago

    Two words: Celebrity Cameo's.

  • Moribundman #2 2 years ago

    Errr couldn't it just as easily have something to do with LA Noire or another Midnight Club LA game?

  • somnolentsurfer #3 2 years ago

    Um... Shouldn't one maybe question whether "a best selling and critically acclaimed fictional games series would choose to base one of their most popular games" in a real life environment? If it's California, it's probably some variation on San Andreas, right?

  • himynameisnathan #4 2 years ago

    I might just be speaking for myself here, but, GTA; Swansea.

    Not the best idea

    Seriously though, wherever they base it, the game will most probably be amazing, although I do hope it's set somewhere other than America.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #5 2 years ago

    You know its a 'slow news monday' when EG post the same article twice but with different wording :

    1) "GTA V to be set in Hollywood"
    2) "Rockstar researching Hollywood for GTA V"

    What happened to the good old days when you could just update an article?

    It isn't the same article. One was based on another site's source that said GTA V will be set in Hollywood. This one is that Rockstar is researching Hollywood, but not necessarily for GTAV - and comes from a different source.

    Having said that, you're right - we would usually update a story rather than post again. But this is GTAV (potentially) - probably the world's biggest game IP.
    Edited by 1 at 26/07/10 @ 12:13

  • superdelphinus #6 2 years ago

    what somnolentsurfer said

    would be great if it's a san andreas update :)

  • mkreku #7 2 years ago

    Would be nice if they managed to get outside the US for a change.

  • Xardan #8 2 years ago

    I dont think GTA set in hollywood is a good thing.

  • jonfon #9 2 years ago

    Wouldn't this be more likely to be a "GTA 4 : Hollywood" or whatever rather than GTA 5? If they're going by what they did with GTA3, Vice City and San Andreas that is.

  • Ryze #10 2 years ago

    Vinewood.

  • Yossarian #11 2 years ago

    They already did LA. And it wasn't fun compared to SF or LV, just like real-life LA.

  • lavalant #12 2 years ago

    They should set it in the past, and the future, and when you drive 88mph you get to 'jump' between times.

  • JonFE #13 2 years ago

    I really hope it has nothing to do with San Andreas; it's the only 3D GTA I didn't care enough to even start properly...

  • darkmorgado #14 2 years ago

    Pft. I'm still waiting for Grand Theft Auto: Corby Nights

    Nothing, I mean nothing, that R* come up with would be outrageous when it comes to Corby.

    EDIT: Oh dear, looks like I upset some Corby residents. I'm sorry that you live in such a shithole, really I am.
    Edited by 1 at 26/07/10 @ 19:00

  • bodypopper #15 2 years ago

    Kind of ironic for a franchise that wouldn't exist without its creators love of Hollywood movies (80s cheesefests included) to put the boot in to the dream factory but what the heck, bring it on.
    I'm betting it will be 3D enabled but also taking the mickey out of 3D at the same time,
    How very post modern.
    Future GTA with hoverboards next please Rockstar.

  • Moribundman #16 2 years ago

    @porkloin The thing is, LA seems pretty much done to death by Rockstar... GTA3 was an analogue of cities, whereas Liberty City in GTA4 was a more specific caricature of NYC. The difference is that they've already done their caricatures of LA,Vegas and Frisco in San Andreas, and TBH they did a damn good RAGE model of LA in Midnight Club. They've also rendered period LA for LA Noire... They'd be competing with their own existing products if they made a new game set in "Los Angeles"...

  • brseg #17 2 years ago

    If they're looking at research locations now, it means GTAV is a long long way off :(

  • Petulant_Radish #18 2 years ago

    I’d quite like it if it was set in Watford, I could run round happily killing all the slightly backward folk from round that way, especially at Kudos nightclub (or whatever it’s called now)!

  • mrfight67 #19 2 years ago

    @brseg it might be a second research project. On GTA IV, they went to NYC many of times for research during the production of the game

  • Ryze #20 2 years ago

    Next question / speculative statement:

    If this does return to San Andreas, will it be multi-disc w/ install on 360, or will they simply use repetition and compression to get it all on one disc?

    Is this even related to GTA, eh? I'd say that if it is, then it's more likely to be GTA: Los Santos, and to be installable on the 360, with SF and LV following as separate disc - based games in the following years.

    I'd be curious to see the download sales of 'GTA Episodes...' vs the DLC packs. I'd expect the disc to win due to mainstream ignorance of online services.

    Regardless - AIRCRAFT. It's all about getting multiple AIRCRAFT and underwater swimming back in GTA. Allow me to holster a weapon as easily as turning off the radio, also.

    Include PSMove support for shooting too...

  • RodHull #21 2 years ago

    Watford? Pah! Walford would be bestest, with Heather Trott as the lead femme fatale.

  • Johnson #22 2 years ago

    Press X to say "What's going on?"
    Press Y to say "Leave it out."
    Press A to say "Get outta my pub!"
    Press B to shoot Ben Mitchell in the face.

  • geeza2020 #23 2 years ago

    I may have missed it in the article, but what/who/where is this source EG? At the moment its just you saying this stuff. A "source" could just be a dream you had about getting more hits.

  • afghan_jones #24 2 years ago

    Balls. They did LA already. Hollywood as a location would be shite compared to Liberty City.

    Would like to see international, with an american main character to keep the americana satire going.

  • mushroomyakuza #25 2 years ago

    GTA: Tokyo is long overdue.

  • Ged42 #26 2 years ago

    GTA Watford: Dodging through the ring road whilst searching for rent boys for Elton John.

  • jefranklin18 #27 2 years ago

    GTA London (or Watford) are worthy suggestions, but I would suggest GTA: UK. It sounds ambitious but major cities such as London, Manchester, Edinburgh, etc would be mapped out in reasonable detail with major motorways connecting them. All other towns/cities would procedurally-generated (viz: http://fl owingdata.com/2009/05/14/pixel-... The same with minor roads, etc.

  • gribb #28 2 years ago

    This GTA V hit baiting needs to stop. Where are the facts?

  • AgentBalti #29 2 years ago

    Ah just redo Vice City for the next gen. Gets my vote, anyway. Vinewood would do nicely instead though...it's essentially the same. Sun, Sea, Porn, Movies, rinse and repeat. Just sort out the handling, pwease.

  • himynameisnathan #30 2 years ago

    @ Gungrave

    I always found I had most fun with GTA between 10 and 12, straight after breakfast, you should try it sometime

  • Iain815 #31 2 years ago

    Haven't they (presumably) been developing the next GTA for a while now? Surely they would have done all the research on wherever they're going a right while ago...

  • metalangel #32 2 years ago

    They already have a scarily realistic and detailed LA from Midnight Club which felt like a real city in a way that Liberty City never did.

    And to those who (always) insist fucking London "needs to" be the next city: go play The Getaway series. London is a shit place and an awful setting for a game like this. No hills, no scenery, just endless narrow, dull streets full of the sort of insufferable cunts who think it's a great place and should be the setting for a GTA game.

  • bigmickhart #33 2 years ago

    GTA Tyne/Wearside please :D

  • BeersOfWar #34 2 years ago

    GTA: Watford sounds awesome.

    You could have rival ethnic gangs fighting over newsagent marketshare of Whippendell Rd.

  • BeersOfWar #35 2 years ago

    @ Radish

    Oceana. And it's equally horrific.

  • Andreas2402 #36 2 years ago

    Bring it on!

  • collateral89 #37 2 years ago

    they should do gta worldwide!!!

  • MiniAmin #38 2 years ago

    London is a shit place and an awful setting for a game like this. No hills, no scenery, just endless narrow, dull streets full of the sort of insufferable cunts who think it's a great place and should be the setting for a GTA game.

    Yeah, I remember seeing many hills and scenery in GTAIV.

    And you're an idiot for calling Londoners insufferable cunts.

  • Davey #39 2 years ago

    /flys chopper into Hollywood sign

  • SAMagic #40 2 years ago

    There was a typo in the original source - it's actually Bollywood.

    The game will be one giant dancing mini-game.

  • metalangel #41 2 years ago

    There are hills in London, yes, but none of any significance anywhere near the centre (GTA Hampstead?). It's all flat, the Getaway had to resort to putting recovery trucks everywhere to give you a chance to get some air and have fun. Los Angeles, meanwhile, has plenty of changes in elevation as does San Francisco if they're doing a proper sequel to San Andreas.

    For a game where you have to drive everywhere, you need a geographically interesting place which London is not. As for the locals... I lived and worked there and stand by my views.
    Edited by 1 at 26/07/10 @ 19:34

  • Svalbaard #42 2 years ago

    GTA Johannesburg.

  • MiniAmin #43 2 years ago

    For a game where you have to drive everywhere, you need a geographically interesting place which London is not. As for the locals... I lived and worked there and stand by my views

    Standing by your views doesn't validate them; they only make you seem like a bitter person with a grudge against the inhabitants of a very large city.

  • metalangel #44 2 years ago

    My opinion doesn't become invalid just because you don't agree with it.

    If you are one of the few nice Londoners I never met then that's a shame, but if I can't form my views based on my own personal experiences over an extended period of time then how am I supposed to?

  • MiniAmin #45 2 years ago

    I'm not saying you shouldn't form views based on personal experiences. I'm saying that the way you articulate this particular view is unnecessarily offensive. People are more inclined to act cuntish towards you if you generalise them as insufferable cunts based on the city they live in.

  • Futaba #46 2 years ago

    The world is full of assholes, not just London.

  • M_of_the_sys #47 2 years ago

    As a Londoner, I have to agree with metalangel.

  • Spekingur #48 2 years ago

    Wouldn't it be great if this research was related to a new Midnight Club game?
    Or even better, a new Table Tennis game!

    GTA Belfast should of course be the next game in the GTA series.

  • Highspeed123 #49 2 years ago

    I don't understand why it has to be set in the US again. I love the GTA games but how about one of the European cities to make a change. London would be awesome!

  • Verwandlung #50 2 years ago

    "GTA Brussels: Capital city of Europe "should of course be the next game in the GTA series. :)
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/10 @ 12:14

  • Huxley82 #51 2 years ago

    GTA: San Francisco, set in the late 60s, early 70s. Bullit, nuff said.

    GTA London, in the 60s - Austin Power Style.
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/10 @ 13:11

  • Huxamalay #52 2 years ago

    GTA Brighton

    where you can nuke Whitehawk then go down to chopper choons

  • Acrid #53 2 years ago

    GTA: Newcastle - Where you don't need to pay the lasses to regain health.

  • undefin56 #54 1 year ago

    AWWWWWWWWWWWW THATS SUCKSSS Y HOLLyWOOD 4 gta 5 ITS BEST FITTED ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII THIS PLACE cAN BE LOOKING BEST FITTED FOR UPCOMING LOCATIONS BECAUSE THEIR ARE HONOLULU BIG ISLAND MAUI KAUI MOLOKAI AND MISSION AND ONE ISLAND THAN AFTER THAT ISLAND IS DONE THAN U CAN TAKE A PLANE HELICOPTOR OR BOAT TO GET TO THE NEXT ISLAND INSTEAD.and yeah i say LIBERTY CITY ITS OVER NEXT STOP HONOLULU.HAWAII =).GTA5 WELCOME 2 HAWAII.......