With the long-anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 drawing closer, it is no wonder that more discussion than ever is being had regarding what kind of narratives and themes the game will explore. Thanks to the first reveal trailer for the project, fans have a fairly decent idea of what can be expected from the main story of the game, at least from the perspective of its protagonists, but a lot of the more minor details are still up in the air.
While many players are already expecting the core story of Grand Theft Auto 6 to be rich and in-depth, it is worth noting that the inevitable online mode for the title will be a great way to extend this narrative, much in the same way it did for Grand Theft Auto 5. If the online experience of Grand Theft Auto 6 has anywhere near as much longevity and narrative quality as GTA 5‘s multiplayer counterpart, then Rockstar could finally give fans a more tangible idea of what happened to Niko Bellic, the iconic protagonist of 2008’s Grand Theft Auto 4.
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Niko Bellic Deserves an Update in Grand Theft Auto 6
It is clear to see why Niko Bellic is considered by many to be one of the most memorable protagonists across the entire Grand Theft Auto franchise. With Grand Theft Auto 4 being the last mainline release to have a singular protagonist, Niko Bellic existed in the sweet spot of Rockstar’s more modern and thorough storytelling, while still having an entire game’s-worth of character development without the bloat of multiple protagonists.
This matched well with the much darker and gritty themes of Grand Theft Auto 4‘s characters, locations, and narratives, with Niko’s story being one of war, violence, grief, and betrayal. This gives a unique perspective to Grand Theft Auto 4 which is channeled through Niko, creating the perfect storm of memorability that has seen the character still be so present in discussion surrounding the franchise, despite GTA 4 releasing almost two decades ago.
As such a well-received character, many fans were hoping for an appearance from Niko Bellic at some point during 2013’s GTA 5, although this sadly never happened. While references are made to Niko in a handful of dialogue instances throughout GTA 5, many fans were disappointed that the ultimate fate of the character is still up for debate, and Grand Theft Auto 6 should be the title to finally lay this mystery to rest.
It is known through GTA 5 that Niko “went quiet” since the explosive life of crime that he led throughout the events of GTA 4, but there is no real way of telling what has happened to Niko since the 2008 game. Despite how expansive the story of Grand Theft Auto 6 is already rumored to be, it could make sense for the game’s single-player to focus majorly on its unique characters, without having to rely on nostalgic call-backs to older games. If this is to be the case, then there is clear room for GTA 6 Online to feature Niko in some capacity.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Online Could Be the Perfect Resting Ground For Older Protagonists
2013’s Grand Theft Auto Online has grown to become a powerhouse for the franchise, even carrying forward the post-launch narrative of GTA 5 that many fans were hoping to see in dedicated story expansions. GTA Online has been the major way in which players have seen how the likes of Trevor, Franklin, and Lamar have changed in the years after GTA 5‘s release, and it only seems right that Niko Bellic is given the same treatment in Grand Theft Auto 6 Online.
This does not necessarily mean that Niko has to be condemned back into a life of crime in GTA 6, but the game could easily offer that piece of closure that fans have so desperately wanted to see for the last 16 years. It would be a shame if GTA 6 did not find a way to celebrate the rich history of the franchise’s past in some capacity, and the story-related content of the game’s online mode seems like the perfect setting to give Niko Bellic the life update that he deserves.
