GTA VI Protagonist and Location Revealed?

Grand Theft Auto VI has been the subject of rumors, speculation, and fan anticipation for years. Finally, on February 4th, 2022 Rockstar Games officially confirmed that the "next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway."

On July 27th, Bloomberg released a report underlining how the controversial studio has been impacted by rampant reports of mistreated and overworked staff, and the crumbling reputation of Rockstar Games in the last year. Amidst this widely-cited source, Bloomberg revealed some new details about Grand Theft Auto VI, including one of the potential protagonists, and seemingly confirmed the game's location.

It is worth remembering that none of these details have been officially confirmed by Rockstar and come from "people familiar with development" that Bloomberg has spoken to. 

Grand Theft Auto VI will apparently feature two playable protagonists in a plotline inspired by the infamous bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde. It will feature the series' first playable female protagonist as the pair wreak havoc on the streets of Vice City. Vice City and its surroundings (which is based on Miami, Florida) first appeared in 2002's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and brought the 1980s to life through a neon-soaked, drug-infused open world for players to explore. This wouldn't be the first time that the franchise has revisited past locations. For example, San Andreas (from 2004s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas) appears as a district in Grand Theft Auto V; but it will be interesting to see if Rockstar Games keeps Vice City's recognizable 1980s aesthetic, or if the city is remodeled into a contemporary setting.
 

Rockstar Games and the Grand Theft Auto franchise have long been highly praised (and widely criticized) for their approach to satire. Smart and controversial in equal measure, the series certainly has a distinct voice and has been unafraid to set its sights on all corners of society, however with the sixth mainline installment this may be about to change. After dismantling their "frat-boy culture" Rockstar is apparently attempting to "reinvent itself as a more progressive and compassionate workplace" and this will apparently see Grand THeft Auto VI adopted a more nuanced approach to its humor and tone, with the developers "cautious not to 'punch down'". 

Grand Theft Auto VI is still several years away and is likely to go through many more redesigns in that time. It looks like the game will not release until at least 2024 and, at that point, the game will have been in development for ten years. One of the methods of easing the crunch culture that has plagued Rockstar Games is apparently to release the game segmentally. While the words 'live-service' haven't been used, the rumor is that Vice City and its surroundings are just the first set of environments in Grand Theft Auto VI, with Rockstar planning to "continually update the game over time, adding missions and cities on a regular basis".

 

Alex David Johnson (@AlexJohnWriting)
NoobFeed, News Editor