GTA 6’s Protagonists Already Herald a New Generation for the Franchise

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 3, 2024 4 Views 7 Min Read
GTA 6's Protagonists Already Herald a New Generation for the Franchise



Grand Theft Auto has traditionally featured protagonists in their 30s to 40s up until now. For instance, GTA 5 introduced Michael, a retired bank robber dealing with his past and family conflicts in his middle age, and Trevor, a chaotic criminal with a long history of violence. Back in GTA: Vice City, the community was met with the iconic Tommy Vercetti, a seasoned 35+ mobster navigating the drug-infused streets of the 1980s. These middle-aged characters brought a specific “been there, done that” feel along with them, but the formula for GTA protagonists has started becoming fairly predictable.




However, that’s likely about to change. While the older stories had the feel of second chances, revenge, or redemption shaped by years of crime, betrayal, and gritty ambition, GTA 6’s rumored protagonists, Jason and Lucia, appear to be much younger. As such, their character arcs are likely going to touch base on contemporary social issues as well. The upcoming protagonists appear to be in their 20s or 30s at max, which will likely see them providing a different tone and set of motivations that will resonate with a younger audience, bringing a new generation to the franchise.

Lucia from GTA 6 wearing prison clothes, as shown in the trailer

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GTA 6’s Rumored Undercover Cop Twist May Already Have Competition

GTA 6 rumors suggest intricate ties between the protagonists and law enforcement, possibly bringing new narrative challenges to the game.

Younger GTA Protagonists Can Bridge the Time Both In-Game and in the Real World


Returning to possibly younger protagonists like Jason and Lucia — similar to GTA 4’s Niko Bellic and San Andreas’ Carl “CJ” Johnson — works as a way to highlight the passage of time both within the game’s universe and in the real world. GTA 5’s characters, for example, represented the old guard of crime; their motivations were rooted in experiences shaped by earlier eras, and the storylines were often about legacy or survival within a well-worn world. The massive time gap between GTA 5 and GTA 6 means that in-world, the criminal landscape has likely evolved, just as real-world culture has.

Instead of going for the same old mafia undertones, younger protagonists offer a much better lens to reflect this change, with Jason and Lucia already aligning well with the themes teased in the trailer. Social media’s influence, for instance, is evident. There are also clear hints of a modern, fast-paced Miami life. The protagonists themselves are not exactly Gen-Z or millennials, but they aren’t boomers either. As such, the modern-day themes teased in the trailer, which will likely shape how crime, fame, and public perception unfolds in the game, will feel more natural.


The Younger Protags Could Also Pave the Way for More Tech-Savvy Crime and Heists

With Jason and Lucia being younger and growing up in a world where connectivity and surveillance are omnipresent, the approach to crime in GTA 6 could reflect a much more tech-savvy, digitally integrated style. Rather than sticking with old-school gangster tropes — bank heists, armored trucks, or classic turf wars — GTA 6 might focus on criminal activities that leverage technology in ways the community hasn’t yet seen. This could mean that the storyline might feature anything from hacking into security systems, leveraging social media to manipulate public opinions, or perhaps even exploiting digital currency and the dark web to move money and weapons.

Rumors suggest that

GTA 6
’s protagonists
, Jason and Lucia, might both have ties to the law. Lucia clearly already does, as is evident in the trailer where she is shown in prison. However, Rockstar could explore morally gray conflicts, critiquing corruption within the law to maintain the franchise’s satirical themes.


The Trailer Already Positions Leonida and Protagonists for a Fresh Younger Audience

The GTA 6 trailer features Jason and Lucia navigating crime in a more contemporary landscape. For instance, there are neon-lit urban areas, rural backroads, and environments inspired by modern-day Florida with high-rise buildings. Throughout the trailer, hints of social media live streams, yacht parties, raves, and scenes like girls twerking suggest a focus on modern-day culture and nightlife, indicating a shift toward appealing to a younger audience.


Although the trailer makes it clear that Lucia is being set free from prison, Jason is rumored to be a younger, ambitious character with a twist: he might have ties to law enforcement, possibly working undercover. This rumored change would be huge for GTA, as the franchise hasn’t yet featured a main character so closely aligned with the police. If true, this could mean Jason’s story revolves around balancing his secret duties with his life of crime, potentially leading him into morally gray territory with endless possibilities as to how the story might unfold. Together, the duo might echo a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde dynamic in the fictional state of Leonida – a state full of content and themes that appeal to the young adults of today.

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