The last few years have been rough for the gaming industry. From nationwide scandals to mass layoffs, it seems that the industry is transforming, and many times, for the better. That is, for the people working in the gaming industry and, perhaps, society at large.
However, for gamers themselves, this seems to be a point of contention, as internal growth can sometimes alter or even stifle their favorite games. This appears to be the case with the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, which has been stuck in development since 2014.
GTA VI Will Feature a Female Protagonist for the First Time
While players could always create female characters in GTA Online, the main storyline of the GTA franchise always featured male characters as the protagonists.
GTA VI will feature a Latina woman as a playable protagonist. She will be part of a Bonnie & Clyde-type duo in the game world. (h/t Bloomberg)
This will likely come as great news for women who have classically played through the single-player story mode and wanted to fully immerse into the game world as a character that reflects their gender. GTA has a long history of depicting women in a very negative way, or not at all as main characters, so this is a refreshing change.
For others, and even diehard fans of the franchise, having more options in characters should always be welcome.
GTA Controversy
It’s not news to most gamers that GTA is one of the most controversial games in history. Part of that is at the core of the game itself. In all GTA games, you play an anti-hero–a guy who literally steals cars for a living.
Beyond the main plot at the core of the game–the systems, mechanics, and story are all built around a satirical, hyper-realized America. As America can sometimes be “problematic,” so too is this fantasy, gonzo-universe that exists in GTA.
And that’s where a lot of the fun actually comes from. The fact that you have agency in this open world and can do anything, even if sometimes (most times) those things involve robbing or killing.
A Shakeup at Rockstar Will Lead to Changes
Rockstar, a division of Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. has quietly been undergoing a transformation over the last few years.
According to a report of 20 anonymous employees, Rockstar is transforming itself into a more equitable, more kind place to work. According to the report by Bloomberg, Rockstar changes include, “scheduling, converting contractors to full-time employees and the ouster of several managers that employees saw as abusive or difficult to work with… (sent) care packages, cloth masks and surprise bonuses… and match donations to Black Lives Matter charities. Employees have been given new mental health and leave benefits.”
These changes will likely reflect in GTA VI itself, as the franchise has historically had a pretty poor track record of depicting marginalized communities and minorities, as the satire of the series sometimes veers into dialogues that feel culturally insensitive.
A Deft Hand Could Put an Exclamation Mark on the Franchise
Just because GTA is changing shouldn’t leave fans worried, though. GTA has always done a decent job of evolving with the times, and with their fans. If this is going to be the last game in the franchise for a while, it should be one that fans and new players can both enjoy. In an evolving world of entertainment, gaming and media companies will have to adjust their content to satisfy their audience.
We’re not looking at this as something that will stifle the next game, we’re looking forward to the newest evolution in the franchise.
If Rockstar is able to pull off the transition in an organic and updated way, as they just did with the latest Red Dead game, Grand Theft Auto 6 can still be hilarious and a blast to play for gamers of all backgrounds.
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