Most gamers flock to Rockstar for Grand Theft Auto, though the Red Dead series has also provided millions of gamers with boundless open-world fun. While the Grand Theft Auto franchise specializes in open-world mayhem, Red Dead instead takes gamers to the Wild West where they can twirl revolvers and kick up dust with their gang. Red Dead Redemption 2 offers one of the most immersive open worlds to date, with one strange exception to its overall structure.
Interestingly, partway through Red Dead Redemption 2, the game drastically changes, throwing gamers into a tropical setting by leaving them shipwrecked on an island called Guarma. There have been many theories surrounding why Guarma was included, as it feels quite out of place. Some gamers believed that Rockstar was experimenting with ideas for Grand Theft Auto 6, but recent reports suggest that is not the case.
The Strange Case of Guarma
In Red Dead Redemption 2, gamers take control of Arthur Morgan, who notorious Van der Linde gang. Although Arthur tries to be a good man, he is loyal to a fault, and he always believes Dutch Van der Linde and his plans. After a disastrous bank heist, Arthur, Dutch, and a few of the gang members board a boat which is eventually shipwrecked, leaving the men stranded on Guarma, an island that has been turned into a sugar plantation by Colonel Fussar.
On Guarma, players are met with drastically different gameplay. Players are stripped of the guns they are used to, and they do not have their trusty horses around to help them travel. Consequently, though Guarma is a short chapter, it can feel quite slow-moving. The American landscape is replaced by a tropical environment, complete with its own plants and species. It is difficult to explore the location due to the sniper that takes out players if they venture too far, though gamers have found ways to exploit RDR2 glitches that allow them to bypass the sniper and see more of the island. Despite the lack of resources, players help Hercule Fontaine with his plan to liberate the people of Guarma, and in the process, they manage to escape from the island.
Though Guarma is beautiful, players never get the chance to visit it again after they leave, making the island a unique location in the game. Furthermore, while the chapter contains important character development, it does not advance the plot much, and the focus on Hercule and his rebellion feel like an unnecessary detour from the main narrative. The feeling that Guarma is out of place in Red Dead Redemption 2 has caused some gamers to believe that Rockstar had ulterior motives with the chapter and that they were using it as an excuse to experiment with ideas for future GTA titles, though recent reports cast a shadow of doubt on this theory.
Reports Surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6
Rumors regarding GTA 6 have been plentiful for a while, though the most credible leaks thus far have come from recent reports by Bloomberg. The reports claim that GTA 6 has been in development in some form at Rockstar since 2014. They also warn that gamers may receive a game that is quite different from its predecessors, in part because of the cultural shift at Rockstar. Although the company once embraced a frat boy culture, it has since become more socially conscious, and this, according to reports, will be reflected in Grand Theft Auto 6.
Bloomberg's reports claim that the next GTA game will, for the first time in the series' history, feature a female protagonist. She will be a Latina serving as one half of a couple inspired by Bonnie and Clyde. The game will also take on a different tone than prior games, and while it will still have humor, developers will attempt to not "punch down" by targeting marginalized groups. This may be a shock to some gamers, but signs of Rockstar's shifting direction have been seen in recent years, including with the company's decision to remove transphobic jokes from GTA 5.
According to Bloomberg's sources, development has been a rocky road, and some developers have left as a result of the slow progress. Initially, developers intended to depict both South America and North America. However, they had to scale back things and focus on Miami and its surrounding areas instead. This suggests that the next Grand Theft Auto game will take place in Vice City, a region that has been explored in prior games. The reports also claim that Rockstar will continually update the game with new missions and new cities.
So What Was the Point of Guarma?
If Guarma was not being used to test assets, then its purpose remains a mystery. Most likely, Guarma's inclusion was to serve a narrative purpose. Away from the distractions of the rest of the Van der Linde gang and the huge map to explore, gamers are forced to shift their attention to Dutch, and they come to realize who he truly is underneath all the charm and slick talk. Gamers get a good look at his ruthlessness when he kills an old woman for poor reasons. They also see the extent to which Dutch will stick to his outlandish plans, no matter how irrational they have become or how many people he has to kill or betray. Guarma served as a turning point, giving players a chance to finally decide where they stand with Dutch and the rest of the gang.
Importantly, the chapter also served to break up a very long game with some varied gameplay and environments. Red Dead Redemption 2 has so much to do that it is easy to sink hundreds of hours into the game. Even if one tries to stick to the main missions, the game can still take dozens of hours. Guarma switches up the game's usual formula by taking away the weapons gamers have become attached to and by throwing them into a new environment. Gamers also get to use heavy-duty weaponry against warships, providing one of the most unique and exciting moments in the entire game. While Guarma might feel out of place, it does ensure the game has some variety.
It appears that, despite fan theories, Guarma has nothing to do with GTA 6. The chapter's true purpose in Red Dead Redemption 2 remains elusive, though it was most likely an interlude meant to serve as a narrative turning point and to provide some variety. It remains to be seen what Rockstar is cooking up for the next GTA game.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is currently in development.
