Highlights

  • GTA 6 could explore social media in-game like never before, leveraging the evolution of online culture.
  • GTA 6 may feature influencer-themed mini-games and missions, reflecting the role of social media in modern society.
  • Satire is a key element in GTA's humor, and social media is ripe for satirization.

Social media could play a big role in Grand Theft Auto 6 in-game in ways that the series hasn't explored before. While Grand Theft Auto 5 had some degree of in-universe social media with LifeInvader accounts, Grand Theft Auto 6 can take full advantage of how greatly social media has evolved since then. There are a lot of available options that wouldn't have been possible in past games, and Grand Theft Auto 6 is in a perfect position to take advantage of the opportunity. Social media could be worked into the game in a few notable ways.

Satire is core to Grand Theft Auto's sense of humor, and it shows through in many aspects. One of the most obvious examples is recurring weapons store Ammu-Nation, which fully plays into the stereotype of Americans being obsessed with guns. Individual characters and missions fall into this as well, such as LifeInvader's CEO openly bragging about using child labor and stealing users' personal information. The Grand Theft Auto universe is essentially a version of Earth where everything is amplified to ridiculous levels with no subtlety at all. The developers thrive with such an over-the-top setting, and there's no reason to expect anything less from Grand Theft Auto 6.

Grand Theft Auto 6 Cameos
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Social Media is a Big Gameplay Avenue for Grand Theft Auto 6

Social Media Has Grown Since Grand Theft Auto 5

The explosion of Grand Theft Auto 5's Lamar roast memes is unlikely to have gone unnoticed by Rockstar. However, another part of online culture has risen since GTA 5's release. Social media has become a major part of the internet, and it's a perfect source for GTA 6 to pull from. It would be surprising if there wasn't at least one influencer character somewhere in the game. In fact, the protagonist could take up the role themselves if necessary. While Lucia and her partner may be busy with Vice City's underworld, an influencer side gig could offer its own fun.

GTA 6 Could Feature Influencer-themed Mini-Games and Missions

Influencer-themed side content in GTA 6 could see Lucia collecting sponsorships from Grand Theft Auto's in-game brands, potentially from accomplishing certain tasks or missions. The game could parody various types of influencer content, from gaming to vlogging. In addition, there could be some mission lines similar to the Strangers and Freaks missions from GTA 5 featuring other influencers. Some could need some help from Lucia, which wouldn't be a surprise in Vice City; others could be villains in their own right who have their operations dismantled by Lucia. Considering how wild the world of GTA is, there's no telling how absurd its influencers could get.

Social media has become a major part of the internet, and it's a perfect source for GTA 6 to pull from.

GTA 6's Trailer Showed Off Plenty of Social Media Already

There could already be some hints towards a social media gimmick in GTA 6. Grand Theft Auto 6's trailer shows off social media on several occasions. There are several videos shown accompanied by captions and hashtags that are reminiscent of sites such as Instagram or TikTok. This could simply be a stylistic choice for the trailer, since it was an attention-grabbing design, but there is a chance that it could have foreshadowed a social media presence in the story. If this aesthetic reappears in future trailers for Grand Theft Auto 6, then it will add further evidence for this possibility.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is inheriting a legacy of satire and parody, and social media is a natural source of material. GTA 6 could get several mini-games and side stories surrounding it that could be worked into the game. Of course, while the actual crime story of Grand Theft Auto 6 is sure to take center stage, the culture of social media has too much potential to be ignored. Fans shouldn't be surprised to see some activities related to social media or influencers in Grand Theft Auto 6.