GTA 6’s Satire on Florida Will Not Directly Tackle Trump or COVID-19

Rockstar Games has a reputation for delivering sharp and often irreverent satire in its Grand Theft Auto series. With a 13-year gap between Grand Theft Auto 5 and the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, there’s a wealth of American culture ripe for exploration and critique. However, recent previews indicate that certain topics will be off-limits in the new game. Specifically, it seems that GTA 6 will not tackle Donald Trump’s political ascent or the COVID-19 pandemic directly.

This decision may please many fans, as the series typically offers a fantastical escape that mirrors a warped version of reality. Yet, Rockstar has additional reasons for avoiding real-world historical events.

“We run the risk of dating ourselves in a sort of awkward way,” said Rob Nelson, head of Rockstar North. “So we have to look at things and go, what is going to have a timeless sort of quality that will resonate with relatable human folly and be remembered as part of this time?”

It appears that Rockstar might still include subtle nods to the rise of conspiracy theories in today’s culture, indirectly referencing both Trump and the pandemic.

In another preview, Nelson elaborated on their approach to satire: “Because we work on such a long development cycle, we have to be careful not to jump on trends too quickly. We need to choose our angle thoughtfully and determine what will remain timeless. We’re not a TV show releasing episodes weekly or monthly. We must ensure that what we choose to satirize won’t feel outdated. Broader themes are fine to poke fun at, but very specific political issues or memes can become stale quickly.”

Previous trailers for Grand Theft Auto 6 have hinted at popular memes, including a nod to the “Florida Joker” and some viral TikTok moments.

Nelson also stressed the importance of keeping GTA feeling “timeless,” even steering clear of contemporary slang to prevent the game from feeling outdated.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.