GTA 6 City of the Week is a weekly article series here on GTA BOOM. Every week, we will evaluate a different city in the United States, gauging how well it would fit GTA 6 as a setting.
GTA V News Recap
Following pretty and peaceful Portland last week, we now go back to the east coast in search of the next possible setting for GTA 6. With the continued massive success of Shark Cards and the (rather messy) departure of Leslie Benzies, we might even find ourselves looking at a completely different GTA whenever the next installment is released. For all we know, whenever GTA 6 undergoes server maintenance, we won't even have a single player mode to retreat to.
Despite this 5 hour downtime being the longest time Rockstar has ever mucked around with the servers, there is still no word on what the next content update for GTA Online might be. There have been no credible leaks for weeks, making this the first time in ages that we are truly kept in the dark regarding the game's future.
Of course, if that massive rally for a Biker DLC gains enough popularity, we just might see the day that Rockstar creates it for GTA Online based on popular demand. In the mean time, we'll have to make do with what we have — meaning a ton of varied jobs, modes and vehicles — and our hopes of what we'll get.
Well, let's just see how much we should hope for Washington, D.C. to become the setting of the next GTA game? Will the nation's capitol prove to be a good place for a crime game, or will D.C. stay out of the Rockstar spotlight?
After looking at Portland, Oregon last week, it's no doubt that readers are hoping for a more active and more... criminal city. Well, if you'll ask anyone who isn't too satisfied with the current government of the USA, they'll sure as hell tell you D.C. is full of criminals. A unique federal district, Washington houses all three branches of the federal government — the Congress, the Supreme Court and the President.
Covering territory which geographically would be part of Maryland and Virginia, D.C. isn't part of any state in legal terms. Population-wise, Washington itself has barely more than half a million citizens, however the greater metropolitan area surrounding it numbers well over 6 million, making it the 7th largest in the country. The Potomac River forms a natural border and has a handful of tributaries, which nicely section off the city into regions — not particularly different or diverse regions, but regions nonetheless.
There is difference between the wealthier and poorer neighborhoods, but much of the city is interchangeable with the rest. There is a glaring lack of a typical American downtown area with a few massive skyscrapers in the middle of the city, as there is a restriction in place on the height of buildings — they cannot be taller than the width of the adjoining street, plus an additional 6 meters. There are some areas which are roomier, while row-houses dominate others. A massive park-system has been built in the city, making much of it green.
Thing is, Washington has two issues in terms of GTA compatibility: firstly, the green areas and the homogeneity make it uninteresting for players and driving. Secondly, the street-plan of the city is something of a nightmare for anyone who dares sit into a car. Finding your way around the city is difficult due to a repeating pattern.
Crime
Going beyond the jokes about the government, Washington has it's history of crime and the city was once the capital of more than just the nation. While New Orleans might be the "Murder Capital" today, Washington used to hold that title. In 1991, almost five hundred murders took place. While the numbers have dropped significantly since then, the rate is once again on the rise and can be primarily attributed to gang violence.
