Before publishing Grand Theft Auto VI There are still a few months until the game rock star has caused unusual controversy on social networks. The creators of the video, which is becoming increasingly popular on TikTok, said they would not allow their boyfriends, fiancés or husbands to play GTA 6. The reason isn’t the violent or crime themes of the series, but the romance mechanics associated with Lucia, as well as the explicit content.
Interest in the game increased dramatically following the release of a massively expanded look that showcased approximately 27 minutes of new footage. The film gives us a more detailed look at the relationship between protagonists Jason Duvall and Lucia Caminos. From what we’ve seen, it looks like Rockstar is taking their connection more seriously than previous games in the series.
That being said, character relationships don’t seem to be a completely fixed part of the script. Some of Jason’s actions affect the dynamics between the characters. For example, in one of the scenes shown, the player can speed up Lucia while she is in the bathroom. Little things like this will make people feel that the player’s behavior will have a certain impact on the relationship between the couple.
It’s this feature that has prompted unexpected reactions from some TikTok users.
One of the most popular was a video from blogger Shelby Haas, who stated that her fiancé would not be allowed to play GTA 6 “under any circumstances.” As arguments, she cited the possibility of dating the character, the specificity of Jason and Lucia’s relationship, and, judging from the demo, the message that Lucia might have an emotional reaction if the player ignores it.
In addition, Haas also mentioned previously released information about explicit content in “GTA 6”, including strip clubs and locations with nudists. The video ends with her urging other girls to take the same stance and not allow their partners to launch new GTA.
The video is extremely popular: as of this writing, it has received over 815,000 views, over 94,000 likes, and over 1,000 comments. At the same time, audience reaction was divided. Some users supported the author, while others reminded her that this is just a video game and the presence of attractive characters and romantic scenes does not in itself mean cheating.
Haas is not the only TikToker to speak out in this way. Other creators also started posting videos with comments such as “If my boyfriend plays GTA, he won’t be my boyfriend anymore.” Some of these videos were clearly made to joke around or participate in viral virality, but judging from the reactions, some users do believe that the content of GTA 6 is a good reason to ban the game in relationships.
At the same time, another issue that has gradually emerged surrounding this situation is the misunderstanding of the concept of GTA 6. Some of the footage gives the impression that the romantic relationship between Jason and Lucia is a mandatory core mechanic of the game. However, the material available so far suggests something else: Rockstar is giving the player some freedom in deciding how to interact with his partner.
It’s also important to note that Lucia is more than just a character with whom Jason can develop a romantic relationship. She is a fully-fledged secondary protagonist in GTA 6, and players can control her alongside Jason. Their relationship is one of the pillars of the story, but Grand Theft Auto has traditionally left a lot of room for player agency.
Therefore, the current trend of TikTok just shows that before the release of “GTA 6”, there was already a heated discussion about it on the Internet. The closer we get to November 19th, the more similar controversies, memes and mixed reactions will surely appear on social networks.
Ultimately, Rockstar has to figure out not only how GTA 6 will perform as a game, but also how its more mature and provocative mechanics will react. Judging by what’s happening on TikTok, some of this content has been the subject of heated discussion long before players have had a chance to explore Leonidas for themselves.