 The open world was modelled on Southern California and Los Angeles , and its design and in @-@ game render constituted much of the game 's early work . Key members of the game world production team took field research trips throughout the region and documented their research with photo and video footage . Google Maps projections of Los Angeles were used by the team to help design Los Santos 's road networks . To reflect and reproduce Los Angeles 's demographic spread , the developers studied census data and watched documentaries about the city . The team considered creating the open world the most technically demanding aspect of the game 's production . 
