As more content for GTA VI is revealed, player expectations for the game have gradually shifted from "how good will it be" to "is it still the GTA we remember." Some worry that with Dan Houser's departure, changes in Rockstar's internal culture, and altered approaches to female characters, minority groups, and character relationships, the GTA once known for its sharp satire, political incorrectness, and unrestrained dark humor may be undergoing fundamental changes.
Below are the biggest concerns players have compiled regarding GTA VI: from changes in the writing team to shifts in Rockstar's creative philosophy, and potential alterations to the game's overall tone. These do not necessarily mean that GTA VI will ultimately fail, but they are at least worth considering—when Rockstar is no longer the Rockstar of the past, will GTA still be the same GTA?
The reasons why I am concerned that GTA VI might turn out poorly are as follows:
• Dan Houser left Rockstar in 2020 and confirmed that he did not participate in the writing of GTA VI. This means that the key figure who had dominated the series' narrative style since the late 1990s has departed.
• The currently disclosed writing credits have shifted to Rupert Humphries (Senior Vice President of Narrative) and Michael Wiafe, rather than the previous writing team led by Houser.
• Some members of the new generation of writers involved in the project have backgrounds in TV comedies such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Veep, The Thick of It, and Disney productions, which is markedly different from the classic GTA approach centered on radio satire and dark humor.
• A 2022 report by Bloomberg pointed out that after experiencing severe crunch during the development of Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar restructured the company, shifting from its original "boys' club" culture to a more progressive, diversity-focused organization that places greater emphasis on human resources management.
• The same report also mentioned that the next GTA title will avoid "punching down," reduce the sexist jokes targeting women that were common in the past, and feature a Latina woman as part of a "Bonnie and Clyde"-style duo.
• A 2024 Bloomberg report stated that management requested GTA VI writers to be "less crude" when dealing with transgender individuals and other minority groups, as these groups were often merely the butt of jokes in previous games.
• The next-gen re-release of GTA V has removed some related jokes, a move believed to be linked to pressure from LGBT industry organizations.
• Rockstar has stated that previous GTA titles were criticized for having shallow female characters and issues with sexism; they hope to attract more female players, so they will deliberately make the female characters in the game "less attractive."
• The game's story revolves around a couple, with the male character in a relatively secondary position, rather than focusing on a lone anti-hero or three independent male characters as in the past.
• The official positioning of the game is that Lucia is the first fully realized female protagonist in the GTA series; based on currently available information, she is often portrayed as the dominant partner in the duo.
• Jason is publicly described as an unambitious man who waits for Lucia and barely makes ends meet; based on what has been shown so far, he often reacts passively and strives to accommodate Lucia.
• Trailers and media previews heavily emphasize the couple's daily interactions, such as choosing outfits, holding hands, and emotional elements like Jason being the "guardian of this relationship."
• Although the game system allows players to choose whether to develop a romantic relationship between the two characters, the story itself will still force them to remain partners for most of the narrative.
• Nelson once said, "In this world, you are not God." This implies that the game may reduce the consequence-free chaos of the past, instead placing greater emphasis on NPC and police reactions, as well as the connection between player actions and the storyline.
• Rockstar wants the relationship between the couple to remain the core of the story throughout.
• After more than a decade of development cycles, Take-Two and Rockstar have become more concerned about leaks, more focused on their public image, and more risk-averse.
• Today's Rockstar is much larger than it was before 2013, with more layers of approval mechanisms within the company. Jokes, sexual content, and political material all require review at multiple levels.
• Due to pressure from various activist organizations and advocacy groups, satirical content today cannot be as freely expressed as in the past. For Rockstar, the safer approach is to downplay certain targets of satire while placing emotions and character relationships at the center of the story.
This is no longer the original Grand Theft Auto; it merely carries the GTA name. It is similar to upcoming new entries like The Witcher, the recent new 007 First Light, new Gears of War, and new Halo titles.
