Check out this interactive comparison tool where you can compare GTA 5 locations to real-life counterparts in full detail, however you want. You can drag the slider or change it to a side-by-side comparison
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GTA 5 Locations Based on Real Life
It’s no secret that GTA 5’s Los Santos is a depiction of real-life Los Angeles. But how faithful is it really? Keeping in mind that GTA 5 came out on PS3 and Xbox 360 with extreme hardware limitations (both had less than 500 MB of RAM) in 2013, I would say that developers did their best to replicate Los Angeles and a small part of Southern California (Blaine County in the game) of the early 2010s. Let’s dive deeper into this topic and take a close look at the most iconic locations in the game compared to real-life counterparts.
Landmarks Comparison
Maze Bank Tower - U.S. Bank Tower
Maze Bank Tower is the tallest building in GTA 5, and it’s based on real-life U.S. Bank Tower in Downtown LA.
Del Perro Pier - Santa Monica Pier
Del Perro Pier is a recreation of Santa Monica Pier with Ferris wheel and roller coaster.
Kortz Center - Getty Center
Kortz Center, which is featured in one of the newest GTA Online heists, is inspired by the Getty Center in West LA.
Galileo Observatory - Griffith Observatory
Galileo Observatory is a near-perfect replication of the Griffith Observatory.
Oriental Theatre - TCL Chinese Theatre
Located on Vinewood Boulevard, this building is inspired by the historic TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman's).
Badger Building - Capitol Records Building
The iconic round, tower-like structure of Badger Building replicates real-life Capitol Records Building.
LSIA - LAX
Los Santos International Airport (LSIA) is a direct recreation of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Portola Drive - The Beverly Hills Hotel
The luxurious Portola Drive is based on real-life Rodeo Drive.
Vinewood Sign - Hollywood Sign
Vinewood Sign is a depiction of the iconic real-world Hollywood Sign, overlooking the city.
Tequil-La-La - Whisky a Go Go
Tequil-La-La is based on the legendary Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip.
Rockford Hills City Hall - Beverly Hills City Hall
The grand municipality building is based on the real Beverly Hills City Hall.
Vespucci Beach - Venice Beach
Home to mask shops, skateboarders, and outdoor gyms, this area is a direct homage to Venice Beach and its famous Muscle Beach.
Richman Mansion - Playboy Mansion
The famous Richman Mansion was inspired by the Playboy Mansion in LA.
Los Santos River (Canal) - Los Angeles River
Los Santos River (also known as LS Canal) is the recreation of the real Los Angeles River. It begins as a natural flow from the Land Act Dam in the mountains, runs through the city, and empties into the Pacific Ocean.
Cassidy Creek Bridge - Bixby Creek Bridge
The massive Cassidy Creek Bridge that connects roads across the massive canyon is a replica of Big Sur’s Bixby Creek Bridge.
Honorable Mention: In GTA 5’s first few months of its launch, a sculpture in Vespucci Beach was originally a digital replica of Mark di Suvero's real-life art piece Declaration, but it was replaced with one of the early updates due to copyright issues.
Natural Landscapes
Mount Chiliad - Mount San Jacinto
Mount Chiliad is based on Mount San Jacinto in Southern California.
Alamo Sea - Salton Sea
The heavily polluted, salty body of water near Sandy Shores is a recreation of the real-world environmental disaster site, the Salton Sea.
Interesting fact: The real-life Salton Sea was accidentally created in 1905 and grew into a glamorous 1950s celebrity resort, but it eventually turned into a toxic, post-apocalyptic wasteland of rotting fish and abandoned towns that perfectly inspired the desolate vibe of GTA 5's Alamo Sea and Sandy Shores.
Grand Senora Desert - Joshua Tree National Park
The desert area covered in distinct Joshua trees is an homage to Joshua Tree National Park.
Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness - San Gorgonio Wilderness
The highest peak on the map mimics the rugged terrain of the San Gorgonio Wilderness.
These are some of the most iconic landmarks and landscapes that were replicated from real life. Surely there are many more similarities you can find in the game, especially if you live in Los Angeles or have been there before. But I hope this article was interesting and entertaining, so thanks for checking it out, and see you next time!
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