Miami is dressing up as Vice City for GTA 6’s release. The Miami Heat will play as Vice City on November 18, the night before the game comes out, at home against the Milwaukee Bucks and live on ESPN. Their arena, the Kaseya Center, already has a giant “Welcome to Vice City” sign on top and Burger Shot and Cluckin’ Bell food counters inside.
Vice City is GTA’s take on Miami, so the real city is the obvious place for the launch. Here is what has happened so far, in order.
How the takeover happened
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 10, 2026 | The City of Miami Beach votes 4 to 3 to let Rockstar’s campaign go ahead, after a heated debate (GamesRadar) |
| September 22, 2026 | Pieces of a huge “Welcome to Vice City” sign are lifted by air onto the roof of the Kaseya Center (GamesRadar) |
| October 2, 2026 | The Heat announce “A Night in Vice City” for November 18; the finished sign has been lit up (Kotaku) |
| October 15, 2026 | The Miami Beach campaign period starts and runs to the end of the year, as reported in September |
| October 2026 | Burger Shot and Cluckin’ Bell counters appear inside the Kaseya Center (VGC, GameSpot) |
| November 18, 2026 | A Night in Vice City: Vice City against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Kaseya Center, live on ESPN |
| November 19, 2026 | GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S |
A Night in Vice City: the Heat game
For one night, the Heat play as Vice City. According to the team’s announcement, reported by Kotaku and GamesRadar:
- Opponent: the Milwaukee Bucks, at the Kaseya Center.
- Kit and court: a new Vice City uniform and a court with Vice City branding that hasn’t been seen before.
- TV: live on ESPN.
- In the arena: special game night activities and exclusive merchandise.
The Heat’s store already sells a Vice City clothing line. Kotaku spotted a shirt that seems to nod to the one you earn for 100% completion in the original GTA Vice City; it had already sold out. GamesRadar put the shirts at $55 each.
The Welcome to Vice City sign
The sign sits on the roof of the Kaseya Center, the Heat’s arena in Miami. GamesRadar reported in September that the Miami Herald found Miami-Dade County would collect $975,000 for the sign alone, and that some local police objected to the campaign. By early October, Kotaku reported the sign was finished and lit at night.
Burger Shot and Cluckin’ Bell, for real
GTA’s two fast food chains now have counters inside the Kaseya Center, as reported by VGC and GameSpot. GameSpot says the burgers are the ones the arena already sold, now in GTA 6 packaging, and that they are not cheap. A later GameSpot report says GTA 6 burgers will also be sold elsewhere in Florida for the rest of the year.
Who is paying for what
Rockstar has not published the cost of its Miami campaign. Two figures have been reported by major outlets:
- Miami Beach: about $3 million in total, according to the debate before the September 10 vote (GamesRadar). That covers things such as beach umbrellas and chairs with the VI symbol.
- Miami-Dade County: $975,000 for the arena sign, per the Miami Herald as cited by GamesRadar.
Not everyone in Miami is happy about it: some Miami Beach commissioners argued the game clashes with the image the city is trying to build, while others said it is just a video game.
Our take
Analysis A whole NBA night, a rooftop sign and a fake burger chain, all in the city the game parodies, is about as loud as launch marketing gets. If you are in Miami on November 18, the Heat game is the closest thing to a launch party. Everyone else can watch on ESPN, then play from November 19. Our release time page shows when it unlocks where you live.
Common questions
Is Vice City in GTA 6 based on Miami?
Yes, Vice City is the series’ version of Miami. Our Vice City page covers what Rockstar has shown of it, and new Vice City vs 2002 Vice City compares it with the original game.
When can I preload GTA 6?
Preloading opens on November 12. Our preload date post has the details for PS5 and Xbox.
Is GTA 6 out on PC?
Not announced Rockstar has only announced PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. See is GTA 6 on PC.
