Grand Theft Auto VI may still be several months away, but the hype around the beloved franchise’s next installment has never been higher. As Rockstar prepares the release of GTA VI Trailer 3, fans around the world continue to speculate what Grand Theft Auto‘s long-awaited return to Vice City might look like.

There is no telling what sort of hijinks Rockstar has planned for GTA VI, but regardless of what happens in the game’s story mode, it’s certain to include several familiar faces from previous Grand Theft Auto games.

Tony Prince Was Tailor-Made for Vice City’s Nightclub Scene

The Grand Theft Auto franchise has introduced players to countless different characters, but few have been a bigger hit with fans than the titular focus of GTA IV‘s beloved DLC, The Ballad of Gay Tony. Since debuting as a minor side character in Grand Theft Auto IV‘s core story, Tony Prince has become one of the most prominent figures in the franchise, with his penchant for clubbing thrusting him into the limelight in both Liberty City and Los Santos.

Tony Prince has already made a return in Grand Theft Auto Online as the guide for the game’s nightclub scene, so it’s totally within the realm of possibility that he makes a return in the club-heavy environment of Vice City. While Gay Tony might be a bit long in the tooth by the events of Grand Theft Auto VI, it’s hard to imagine that anything could keep him away from the party scene for too long — not even time.

Brucie Kibbutz Is a GTA Fan-Favorite

Like Tony Prince, Brucie Kibbutz is a fan-favorite Grand Theft Auto IV character who eventually returned in Grand Theft Auto V‘s online gameplay. However, unlike Tony, who has been a fairly static character through his various appearances, Brucie rises all the way from a local gym freak in GTA IV to the spokesman for Bull Shark Testerone in Grand Theft Auto V, showing just how far his unique charisma has taken him up the ranks.

A Brucie Kibbutz return in GTA VI doesn’t make as much sense as one from Gay Tony. Still, considering just how high Brucie has risen within Bull Shark Testosterone, it’s totally feasible that he once again appears in Vice City. Safe to say, after years of entertaining players with his outrageous personality and antics, a return from Brucie would be a welcome addition to the blockbuster release.

Dave Norton’s Retirement Could Lead Him to the Streets of Vice City

Throughout the events of Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online, Dave Norton serves as the player’s primary point of contact for the FIB. Although this relationship isn’t always beneficial to the player, Dave goes on to be a key figure in some of the game’s biggest moments, which is why he seems like a perfect choice for the retirement scene in Grand Theft Auto VI‘s Vice City.

GTA VI promises to be denser than any other Rockstar game in history, and it will need hundreds of characters to fill out the game’s sizable environment. Natural fits like Dave Norton feel like a shoo-in to appear in some capacity, even if they’re not as prominent as they were during their previous appearances.

Martin Madrazo’s Criminal Syndicate Spans the Entire Country

Grand Theft Auto VI is sure to introduce a brand-new batch of criminals to the series’ lore, but thankfully, Rockstar’s return to Vice City seems like it will have plenty of room for familiar faces like GTA V‘s Martin Madrazo. The cartel leader plays a significant role as an antagonist in Grand Theft Auto V‘s story, as well as a notable role in Grand Theft Auto Online, thanks to his various criminal connections.

Considering how influential Martin Madrazo and his cartel are, it makes sense that Madrazo would maintain a presence in a major coastal metro like Vice City, and he perfectly matches the Latin flair of the town. While Rockstar will likely avoid reusing Madrazo in too large a capacity after his heavy involvement in GTA V, the franchise’s fanbase would welcome a few more scenes from the stoic gang boss.

Lazlow Jones Has Appeared in Every GTA for the Last 20 Years

Of all the Grand Theft Auto characters who could make a return in GTA VI, none are more likely than the fictionalized version of real-life radio host, Lazlow Jones. Lazlow has been involved with the production of every major Grand Theft Auto release since Grand Theft Auto III, and although he left Rockstar in 2020 after almost 20 years, there’s nothing to say he couldn’t continue his streak with 2026’s biggest release.

Given Lazlow Jones’ celebrity persona in GTA, it’s easy to imagine him appearing in the VIP world of Vice City. Even though the real-life figure’s involvement is less noteworthy these days than it was at the peak of his fame, long-time Grand Theft Auto fans would love to see him continue his legacy with the franchise.

Lester Crest Would Be Perfect for GTA VI’s Setting

Lester Crest might not be one of GTA V‘s main characters, but he’s almost certainly one of the first faces that fans think of when reminiscing about the game. The criminal mastermind’s unassuming appearance belies his incredible skillset, and as a pillar of both Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online‘s Heist missions, his addition to the franchise is among the most underrated aspects of GTA‘s fifth installment.

Grand Theft Auto Online players are likely tired of Lester Crest’s incessant calling after years of him ringing their phone. That said, much like Dave Norton, an older Lester Crest feels like a perfect fit for the retirement homes of GTA VI‘s Florida-inspired setting, so Rockstar may very well choose to reincorporate the tech-savvy character into the stories of Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval.

Marnie Allen’s History in the Epsilon Program Makes Her Prime Leonida Material

The West Coast has been associated with cults since the days of Charles Manson, but if there’s another hotbed for this behavior in the United States, it’s the setting of Grand Theft Auto VI: Florida. Vice City promises to be crawling with cult-like fanatics, which is why it’s also the perfect setting for the return of one of Grand Theft Auto‘s most unique characters, Marnie Allen.

Marnie Allen first appears as a down-and-out young woman in Grand Theft Auto IV. However, thanks to Niko Bellic, Marnie ends the game on a high note, as she’s able to board a train, leave the harsh streets of Liberty City, and return home to her family in the Midwest. Unfortunately, by the events of GTA V, Marnie Allen has become swept up in the Epsilon Program, which has turned her from a counterculture punk to a polo-wearing proponent of Los Santos’ biggest cult.

Tommy Vercetti Became the Kingpin of Vice City

Grand Theft Auto VI isn’t the first game in the franchise to visit Vice City; that honor instead goes to the legendary 2002 title, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. As one of the most popular titles of the early 2000s, it’s only natural that Vice City fans would hope for its protagonist, Tommy Vercetti, to make a surprise return in GTA VI — even if that isn’t particularly likely.

Rockstar has been pretty firm about the 3D-era GTA games (everything pre-GTA IV) existing in a different universe than the HD-era games, but that hasn’t stopped a handful of crossovers from happening in the past. GTA VI is poised to be the biggest gaming release of all time, so it’s only right that the series pay some sort of homage to the legacy of Tommy Vercetti, even if the town’s former top dog can’t actually make a firm reprisal of their role. Whether it’s a one-off mention or an easy-to-miss Easter Egg, fans deserve at least one more chapter in Tommy’s story.

Fernando Martinez Is the Likeliest GTA Radio Return

Crossovers between Grand Theft Auto‘s 3D and HD universes are extremely rare, but if there’s one area where Rockstar has made exceptions to this approach, it’s the franchise’s radio personalities. With this in mind, no GTA radio personality makes more sense to reprise their role than Fernando Martinez, who first made his debut in Grand Theft Auto III before going on to appear in every major GTA release since.

Like Lazlow Jones, Fernando Martinez is one of the few characters to prominently crossover from GTA‘s 3D universe to its HD era. However, unlike Lazlow, Fernando Martinez hasn’t publicly parted ways with Rockstar, making his potential return even more likely than the franchise’s other prominent radio personality.

Trevor Phillips Is the Perfect Choice for a Florida-Themed GTA

Of all the returning characters who could appear in GTA VI, Grand Theft Auto V‘s trio of protagonists — Franklin Clinton, Michael De Santa, Trevor Phillips — are easily the most recognizable. As the stars of GTA V, Franklin, Michael, and Trevor represented a generation of gaming, making it only natural that fans would want to see them make some sort of return in the game’s highly anticipated sequel.

Although Franklin, Michael, and Trevor could all feasibly make their way to Leonida for Grand Theft Auto VI, there’s no question that Trevor fits the game’s Florida-themed environment far better than Michael or Franklin. In fact, Trevor spawned plenty of Florida Man memes upon his debut back in 2013, so an appearance in GTA VI could finally bring his story full circle by sending him into retirement in the rural outskirts of Leonida.