Grand Theft Auto 6is the upcoming title that is on a lot of gamers' minds right now, as 2025 is its current planned launch window. Although nothing is set in stone, and Rockstar could potentially delayGTA 6, it has been at the center of discussion about 2025’s stacked schedule since it was first revealed through its announcement trailer.
There are franchise staples that are to be expected inGTA 6, like heists and outrageous social commentary, but how this will be executed is mostly unclear. However, according to the short trailer, one thing is for certain. Social media will play a role inGTA 6in some capacity. Since its predecessor,GTA 5, the landscape of social media has changed drastically, and TikTok reigns supreme, at least for now.The future of TikTok remains uncertain, but its influence on the music industry is likely to inspireGTA 6’s radio stations.
TikTok Could Play a Larger Role in GTA 6 Via In-Game Music
Viral Songs Have Defined TikTok’s Success
The video sharing app has been a way for online creators to discuss a variety of topics, but one of TikTok’s most notable uses is for musicians. From big names like Sabrina Carpenter and Billie Eilish to unsigned indie artists wishing to spread their music to a wider audience, TikTok has become the hub for a lot of people to discover new songs. Asthe wait for moreGTA 6newscontinues, there is only room for speculation, but it would be surprising if TikTok hasn’t influenced the game at least a little bit.
GTA 6’s Teased Social Media Satire
While brief, there are several shots from theGTA 6trailer that showcase NPCs attempting to capture “viral” moments on social media. This is likely to be through some sort ofapp inspired by TikTok or Instagram, and if that’s the case, then the viral music that has permeated the real world feels bound to make an appearance inGTA 6. Just like how viral videos are difficult to escape, so are the massively popular songs that grow into listening trends, seemingly playing over and over on a loop. It can either be catchy or infuriating, depending on the person, making it perfect forGTA 6to play around with.
AfterGTA 6’s trailer dropped, Spotify streams for Tom Petty’s “Love is a Long Road” increased by 37,000% in a day.
An iconic aspect of every game in theGTAfranchise is its choice of soundtrack. Themusic featured in eachGTAgamehas helped set the tone for its world and story, and a radio station that exclusively plays songs made famous by TikTok is a likely scenario. Rockstar is no stranger to licensing major hits forGTA. WithGTA 6reportedly being quite expensive, it’s possible that a portion of that budget has gone to some of the biggest viral songs of the past few years.
GTA Hopefully Offers More Insight Soon
Rockstar’s plans could change, but as of now,GTA 6is scheduled for fall of 2025. With only one trailer revealed at the tail-end of 2023 and nothing fresh through the entirety of 2024, there will hopefully be significant updates in the coming months. Even if the game gets delayed, a deeper dive intowhat to expect fromGTA 6needs to happen sooner rather than later.
Financial analysts at DFC Intelligence have predictedGTA 6could make $3.2 billion in its first year.
As of now,GTA 6stands to be the biggest launch of 2025, and it will be hard for any other game to be a strong competitor. This new chapter has been over a decade in waiting, and there are high expectations surrounding the title. There’s no way to know what the music ofGTA 6will be like, but having influence from TikTok’s most viral musicians is highly possible.
