Vice City: Then vs Now
1986 vs 2026 — 40 Years of Vice City
From Tommy Vercetti’s 80s neon empire to Jason and Lucia’s modern-day crime spree — Vice City has evolved. But some things never change.
The Setting
1986 — Vice City
Neon-soaked Miami of the 1980s. Pastel suits, sports cars, and cocaine cowboys. Tommy Vercetti arrives fresh from prison and builds a criminal empire from scratch. The music is hair metal and synth-pop. The cars are Testarossas and Countachs. The phones have cords.
2026 — Leonida
Modern-day Florida. Social media influencers, ride-sharing, and a whole new kind of hustle. Jason and Lucia are just trying to survive. The neon is still there, but so are smartphones, crypto, and streaming. The cars are faster. The stakes are higher.
The Protagonists
Tommy Vercetti
Solo protagonist. Voiced by Ray Liotta. The “Harwood Butcher” — did 15 years for the Forelli family. Sent to Vice City, ambushed, built his own empire. Cold, calculating, and ruthless.
Jason & Lucia
Dual protagonists — GTA’s first playable female lead. Bonnie & Clyde dynamic. A couple forced to rely on each other. Lucia just got out of Leonida Pen. Jason wants out of the life. Neither gets what they want.
What Stayed the Same
- The neon. The palm trees. The excess.
- Drugs, money, and power are still the name of the game.
- Vice City is still a place where people come to get rich or die trying.
- The cops are still corrupt. The beaches are still beautiful. The nights are still long.