Long before Rockstar Games officially confirmed GTA 6 with its first trailer in December 2023, fan theories were running rampant across social media. Among them was a seemingly minor observation that was widely dismissed at the time—but it turns out those fans may have been right all along.
A Beach Towel That Divided a Community
In 2013, eagle-eyed players exploring the beaches of Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto V spotted a small but intriguing detail: a towel on the sand bearing the words “I Love Vice City.” At the time, some fans took this as a subtle tease for the next entry in the series, suggesting that Rockstar might be planning a return to the neon-drenched setting of the 2002 classic.
However, the theory was met with widespread skepticism. Many dismissed it as a simple Easter egg—just a nostalgic nod to a beloved previous game, nothing more. “Sure buddy, take your meds, they’d never make another game there,” was the mocking sentiment that echoed across forums and comment sections.
The Vindication
Fast forward to 2023, when Rockstar officially unveiled Grand Theft Auto VI with a trailer confirming a return to Vice City. The towel—and the fans who believed it was a hint—suddenly looked far less ridiculous. As Reddit user nikarov496 recently pointed out in a post that has since gained traction, “Remember, years ago, people used to say this was a hint that GTA 6 was going to be based in Vice City, and everyone was like ‘sure buddy, take your meds.'”
Was It Really a Hint?
While the discovery is a fun piece of gaming history, not everyone is convinced it was intentional. Some Reddit users have pointed out that Grand Theft Auto games regularly feature Easter eggs referencing other cities in the franchise, such as Liberty City and Vice City.
“In a lot of GTA games, there are little Vice City or Liberty City easter eggs. I think it has nothing to do with a hint. Rockstar just likes to mention its other cities,” noted user Icy-Instruction-1198.
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The Bigger Picture
Whether it was a deliberate breadcrumb or just a fun Easter egg that happened to age well, the “I Love Vice City” towel has become a symbol of how even the smallest details can fuel decades of speculation. It also serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most outlandish fan theories turn out to be true.
As we approach the release of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19, fans can look back at the towel theory and smile—knowing that those who believed in it have finally been proven right.
Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.