Grand Theft Auto 6is a huge mystery right now, as there hasn’t been a substantial preview of the game since December 2023. Waiting for a freshGTA 6trailer has generated nearly as much hype and speculation as an actual release, sparking fan theories across the internet. There may be only one trailer right now, but the brief preview at least makes it abundantly clear that the franchise’s satirical take on real life will return.
Markingthe long-awaited return to Vice City,GTA 6is promising outlandish moments. With Vice City and the surrounding fictional state of Leonida being inspired by Miami and Florida, there is a treasure trove of wild real-world stories to draw inspiration from. Despite the secrecy surroundingGTA 6, impending social commentary on social media and influencer culture is inevitable. While Rockstar is the perfect developer to take on such a task, another Take-Two subsidiary, 2K, has a strong example of how poking fun at influencers can backfire withBorderlands 3.
GTA 6 Can Learn From Borderlands 3’s Calypso Twins
A Take on Streamer Culture That Didn’t Sit Well With Audiences
There are a few waysthe Calypso Twins could have been improvedinBorderlands 3, but one of the most glaring is how it handled commentary on internet streaming culture. While the Calypso Twins live-streaming their lives was intended to be annoying, there wasn’t exactly enough comedic levity to balance out the frustration. Instead of being amusing, it mostly came off as bothersome. With Rockstar and 2K both sharing the same parent company, it’s possible that the former could have taken notes from its fellow developer, and that is hopefully the case.
Granted, it’s hard for any villain to follow upthe likes of Handsome Jack, but the Calypso Twins at least had a strong idea behind them. Their story and character development just weren’t executed as well as they could have been. Taking humorous jabs at internet culture in a fresh setting can be a lot of fun, butBorderlands 3unfortunately happened to miss the mark.
The Calypso Twins lead the Children of the Vault faction and are worshiped as gods.
GTA 6 Can Hopefully Excel Where Borderlands 3 Struggled
While properly balancing such pointed satire can be incredibly difficult to pull off,GTA 6at least has the benefit of being one of the best stages to do so. Through the years,theGTAfranchisehas built its unique brand of crude, but clever, humor that picks at some of the wildest parts of modern society and pop culture.GTA 5’s fictional TV show “Fame or Shame” is a strong example of this. The scene where Michael’s daughter Tracey auditions for theAmerican Idol-inspired show is completely ridiculous, but the exaggeration is balanced by being in a more grounded world.
When it comes toGTA 6, the realistic everyday world of Vice City combined with the unrealistic expectations that social media broadcasts is likely to offer a fun contrast that makes this type of social commentary work more effectively.GTA 6has increasingly high expectations, and the franchise has managed to handle its satire quite well in the past, so it’s likely to nail its tone again.
As of now,GTA 6is slated to be released in fall 2025.
GTA 6’s Success is Riding on Vice City
Many longtimeGTAfans have been waiting years to return to Vice City, and it’s likely to serve as the crux of the game’s success at launch. Reports have teased that this isthe biggestGTAmap to date, and many are expecting it to be packed with content. If Vice City is able to live up to players' expectations, then the rest of the game’s world, including influencers and streamers, will feel like a natural part of the environment.
