The impending release of “GTA 6” has sparked an unexpected trend on TikTok: Girls around the world are recording viral videos calling for their husbands and boyfriends to be banned from playing the biggest blockbuster of the decade.
The outrage was sparked by details in a recent 27-minute demo showing the deep romantic relationship between protagonists Jason and Lucia. The creators of these viral videos, including bloggers Shelby Haas and Trinity, are outraged because players will be able to date characters, visit virtual strip clubs and face jealousy from their heroines if they don’t respond to her messages promptly.
Some participants in this trend take what is happening seriously and say they will leave partners to launch their games, although many viewers in the comments rightly pointed out the absurdity of such a ban compared to ordinary virtual entertainment. At the same time, the authors of this trend themselves often ignore the basic mechanics of free choice in the series and the fact that Lucia is a fully-fledged game character.