Recently, former Rockstar North technical director Obbe Vermeij gave an interview, and during the conversation, the canceled project Grand Theft Auto: Tokyo was discussed. The developer revealed some details and also mentioned other potential GTA settings that the team considered.
During the Thunderpick interview, Obbe explained that GTA: Tokyo was primarily handled by the New York division. The idea was that the developers wouldn't drastically change the gameplay from GTA III but would move the setting to Tokyo and add some new elements, such as samurai swords:
Of all our ideas for where to take GTA next, we had: Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, Istanbul, London and Paris, Tokyo was the most serious option. It was supposed to be a GTA III-style game, but in Tokyo. We weren't planning to change the gameplay much. But we would have added some new things. For example, samurai swords were supposed to play an important role.
At the time, there were plans to hand over the development of GTA: Tokyo to another division. Obbe compared this arrangement to the development of Bully — Rockstar North would provide Rockstar Vancouver with technology and other materials to help them get started. But in the end, "the contracts were never signed."
During the interview, Obbe also recalled that Sam Houser came and discussed the idea of GTA: Tokyo, and producer Leslie Benzies "was involved in the idea," but "it never reached the production stage."
Rockstar Games is currently preparing for the November release of Grand Theft Auto VI, which will be set in the state of Leonida.