Miami Politicians Campaign Against 'GTA 6' Ads in the City

The promotional campaign for Grand Theft Auto VI in Miami is facing resistance from local politicians. Members of the Miami-Dade County commission criticized plans to expand the partnership with Rockstar Games, the game's developer, arguing that the production associates the city with violence and murder.

“We are portraying Miami as the murder capital ,” said Commissioner René Garcia during a discussion about the trade agreements. Another member of the commission, Micky Steinberg, also opposed the initiative and stated that, in principle, she does not consider it appropriate to proceed with the partnership.

The city government, on the other hand, intends to leverage the launch to attract millions of dollars in promotional activities. The campaign already includes the installation of the Vice City logo, a fictional version of Miami depicted in the game, at the Kaseya Center, in a deal worth $975,000. The promotion also brought themed cars to the streets and included a blimp inspired by the game, as well as customized beach chairs and umbrellas for South Florida.

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava intends to expand the actions to other parts of the city, such as Miami International Airport, the port, and the public transportation system. However, the proposal met with resistance during a county commission meeting. Due to a lack of sufficient support, lawmakers postponed the vote that would authorize the expansion of negotiations with Rockstar. They also reiterated that agreements exceeding $1 million must be approved by the commission.

The commission's chairman, Anthony Rodriguez, defended the partnership and argued that politicians shouldn't treat the game's story as a literal portrayal of the city. He believes it's necessary to separate the two: GTA VI is just a work of fiction, and the partnership could bring financial benefits to Miami-Dade. The mayor's team also described the campaign as "a love letter to Miami."

The discussion is happening as Rockstar intensifies its promotion of the game before its release. Besides Miami, GTA VI advertisements have already started appearing in other major US cities, such as New York and Chicago.

Everything you need to know about GTA VI

Once again developed by Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto VI is the first GTA in thirteen years, following the astronomical success of GTA V, released in 2013. The franchise is one of the most successful in video game history.

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The story of GTA VI takes place in an open world based on Florida, in the United States. Its setting is Vice City, a fictional version of Miami that debuted in the first GTA and later got its own game with 2002’s GTA Vice City.

GTA VI arrives on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19, 2026. A PC version has not yet been announced.