Vice City: Starfish Island Guide

Starfish Island is a name from the 2002 Vice City, and Rockstar hasn’t published GTA VI’s district names yet. What the trailers do show is a bay island lined with mansions, private docks and palm-shaded driveways, sitting right where Tommy Vercetti’s old neighbourhood used to be.

What the trailers show

Aerial shots show at least one distinct island in the bay between the mainland and the beach districts [1][2], matching the 2002 layout. Bayside footage shows:

• Big private mansions with gated driveways
• Private boat docks at the water’s edge
• Mature palms and tropical landscaping
• A small, recognisable island from the air

It reads as the most exclusive address in town: quieter than the beach condos, richer than Downtown.

The architecture

Expect a mix of styles on the bayside estates:

• Mediterranean-revival mansions with clay-tile roofs
• Glass-and-concrete modernist homes
• Tropical modernist houses with huge outdoor living areas
• Neoclassical mansions with column frontages
• Older art-deco holdovers

The 2002 legacy

In the original game, Starfish Island was a small ring of luxury properties between Downtown and the beach, bridged on both sides. Its crown jewel was the mansion Tommy Vercetti took over from Ricardo Diaz, which became the Vercetti Mansion and his home base for the rest of the story. It’s one of the most famous buildings in GTA history.

Real-world inspiration

Miami’s real bay islands are the obvious blueprint:

• Star Island, the clear source of the name
• Hibiscus Island
• Palm Island
• Fisher Island’s ultra-private residences

All are home to celebrities, moguls and the very rich.

Starfish Island vs Vice Point

Vice Point is high-rise money. Starfish Island is gated-estate money. Vice Point has doormen; Starfish Island has armed security. Vice Point has boutiques; Starfish Island has private chefs. It’s a real step up the wealth ladder.

Our predictions

• A Vercetti callback. A mansion nod to 2002 feels very likely given how iconic the original is.
• Bigger island. The 2002 version was tiny. Expect a larger estate zone to match the bigger map.
• Locals. Moguls, celebrities, crime bosses, private security, gardeners, housekeepers and chefs. Very few tourists.
• Supercars. Exotic sports cars, luxury SUVs, collector cars and high-end EVs, plus yachts at every private dock. Possibly the best car-spotting in the game.
• Mansion missions. Home invasions, party infiltrations, pool-party set pieces, celebrity kidnappings and boat-borne stealth approaches.
• A premium safehouse. A Starfish mansion is our top pick for an endgame home, just like 2002.
• Tight security. Gatehouse guards on the bridges and faster, heavier police and helicopter responses than elsewhere.
• Landmarks. A celebrity mega-estate, a private club, a mansion with a rooftop helipad and one very reclusive owner.

Launch-day tips

• Arrive in style. A nice car may change how the island reacts to you.
• Come by boat. Some mansions could be easier to reach from the water.
• Go at night. If there are mansion parties, that’s when they’ll kick off.
• Hunt for the Vercetti nod. Check the biggest estate first.
• Plan your escape. Narrow bridges mean few exits. Keep a boat handy.

Sources

1. Rockstar Games Newswire, “Grand Theft Auto VI - Watch the Trailer Now,” December 5, 2023
2. Rockstar Games Newswire, “Grand Theft Auto VI - Watch Trailer 2 Now,” May 6, 2025
3. Rockstar Games official website, “Grand Theft Auto VI” - rockstargames.com/VI
4. PC Gamer, “Charting the GTA 6 map”