After eight years since the last entry and several years of rumors, fans have recently suspected the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto 6 is getting announced soon (yet again). Although the new Grand Theft Auto is little more than a rumor, there have been some hints that suggest Rockstar is already preparing the next entry in the franchise. So far, everything seems to point to a GTA set in the '80s because there have been many references to Grand Theft Auto Vice City keeping the rumors alive.
Even though Rockstar has not made any announcements, fans have started theorizing about the next installment of the franchise. Many have started to connect the dots, and with just a job listing in Rockstar India, some have concluded that Grand Theft Auto 6 is connected to its Vice City installment which could mean that the game is returning to that era. Even though a nostalgic GTA is an interesting idea, is this really the best course of action taking into account the target audience?
Grand Theft Auto 6's Setting
These last years have been eventful, to say the least, and the Grand Theft Auto franchise could take advantage of what has been going on in the last few years to give the game a fresh feel. As far as historical context goes for a game like Grand Theft Auto, it just seems like players would feel more connected to a story that takes place in their own time.
This is not to say that the '80s were not an interesting time to explore, as there seems to be a good amount of players born in the '80s who play Grand Theft Auto in that setting. Nevertheless, it might be in Rockstar's best interest to try to grab the attention of newer generations, and it is hard to do so when the historical context seems too distant from their own (even when it's not). Besides understanding some references to Nixon, there does not seem to be much that current generations would really feel connected to.
There is something that the 1980s have definitely going on for them: the fact that the era is known for the drug and crime scene. Still, Grand Theft Auto's missions are all about criminal activities in general, and that is something that can still be accounted for today. Even more, there are many other ways to take GTA missions and add a modern twist in a more relatable way than relying on the 1980s to tell that story.
The Fashion of the 1980s/GTA Vice City
The 1980s' outfits and general aesthetic is probably the one thing that is most easily identifiable to this day. Some of the fashion that characterized the '80s has resurfaced in recent years, so this is the most exploitable element a game like Grand Theft Auto could take advantage of. The neon colors and excess hairspray could admittedly make interesting characters, but then again, is that enough to get new players interested in Grand Theft Auto?
It is not like the 2020s have any lack of subcultures with easily recognizable aesthetics that could be incorporated in a game like Grand Theft Auto, without any real risk of feeling outdated. In terms of character design, it seems like turning to modern trends could actually produce much more versatile and interesting characters than including old GTA references. Of course, this would immediately make characters a little more relatable than referencing people from a 40-year-old era.
The aesthetic of an era is arguably one of the reflections of the ideals of that time. Given how current generations are trying to break old stereotypes, it seems like a safer bet for Grand Theft Auto to change the characters' style and lean on today's fashion standards to keep the franchise new.
Cultural References for GTA Players
One of the greater things that the '80s has given the world is a myriad of movies and music that have impacted those industries to this day. Both millennials and Gen Zs can easily understand references of Back to the Future, Alien, Die Hard, and more. The music scene of the '80s has also had a great impact today, even making its way into TikTok. However, Rockstar can do better than those types of references.
Sure, "Take on Me" is still a beloved song, but stealing a car and have the audio system play "Telepatia" by Kali Uchis or "Montero (Call me By Your Name)" by Lil Nas X would give Grand Theft Auto a much better vibe. There are just so many TikTok hits that could be part of the game's soundtrack that not using those would be a complete waste. Talking about vehicles, it would be a much better inclusion to have Teslas available to steal than many cars of the era, just to accommodate for the possibly bigger Grand Theft Auto world.
One of the most important elements in the game is remote communication. Sure, in Grand Theft Auto Vice City, players got to talk directly to characters for every mission. However, after Grand Theft Auto 5 which already included cellphones, going back to that type of communication might seem more like a burden for players. Drones could also be an interesting addition to a new installment of Grand Theft Auto and the game could include missions to either pilot or take down some of them. Technology is a boon, no matter how it's used.
One of the main hit points for a Grand Theft Auto game inspired in the 1980s would be the lack of recognizable celebrities. Obviously, there are many fans who would absolutely love to see Cher or Tom Cruise in a Grand Theft Auto game, but having Elon Musk or Miley Cyrus, or a clear stand-in for them, do a cameo would be more interesting nowadays. Even though it is not impossible for Rockstar to release a good GTA installment set in the 1980s, there is a risk of having it feel too much like its Vice City game, making a more modern setting seem like the better option.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is rumored to be in development.