The news is out, Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is embracing the zeitgeist and adding a female lead to its forthcoming release. The hit gaming franchise has followed the lead of Hollywood and given women as much, and potentially more, power than men. That’s a positive for equality and it’s an opportunity for the developers at Rockstar HQ to reinvigorate the series when GTA VI is released in 2023/2024.
GTA Continues to Push Boundaries
“GTA Online – Apartment” (CC BY 2.0) by Chireece1305
Will some critics balk at the prospect of a female protagonist? Almost certainly. However, for those that aren’t stuck in an archaic time warp, a fresh-faced lead character should be seen as a fresh beginning for the franchise. Of course, it’s not a complete restart. GTA VI will continue the long-running saga and give players all the things they’ve loved in the past. However, it will also introduce some new features, ideas, and concepts.
That’s what every successful franchise should do when new products are released. From movies to gaming, repetition leads to stagnation which, in turn, leads to a decline in interest. The developers at Rockstar have been very good at keeping things fresh over the years. Changing locations, new abilities, increasingly outlandish weapons, and evolving storylines have made GTA a multi-billion-dollar franchise since the original was released in 1997.
In fact, although estimates vary, GTA as a franchise has sold over 380 million units across multiple platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, PC, iOS, and Android. This ability to span all mediums has helped push the franchise’s revenue over $7 billion. That’s impressive and one of the reasons GTA has remained a hit for more than 20 years. However, it’s not just the game’s accessibility that’s made it popular. The latest announcement that GTA VI will feature a female lead is an example of how the developers aren’t afraid to break with convention.
Crossing Genres Makes GTA a Gaming Great
GTA Online: The Criminal Enterprises explores new avenues of criminality, including new missions for MC Presidents, Executives, Gunrunners, and Nightclub Owners.
Plus, experience improvements, a rebalanced in-game economy, and so much more. https://t.co/apEgzBxylW pic.twitter.com/hYhZCqjeQP
— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) July 26, 2022
GTA is fundamentally an action-adventure game, but that doesn’t define it. One of GTA’s greatest strengths is its ability to cross genres and incorporate ideas from all areas of the gaming industry. As the franchise has evolved and moved away from fixed, arcade-style plots, GTA has become an open-world. There are certainly role-playing elements to it. Then, once online play was added to the mix, it became a massively multiplayer game. This has made it a challenge to any popular free MMORPG out there. Why? Hit MMORPG games tend to thrive because of the communities that grow around them.
This has happened with major MMORPGs where the goal is to take on ancient warriors and travel through fantasy realms. It’s also something GTA players have become accustomed to. Player servers have added a new dimension to the game by allowing players to assume the role of cops, shop clerks, and anyone else within the GTA universe. This is something the developers could build on in GTA VI.
By opening up the software to more player servers and personalization, there are opportunities to keep the franchise fresh, engaging, and, importantly, in line with modern tastes. Putting a female protagonist front and center is an example of Rockstar’s willingness to embrace change and push boundaries. Therefore, when GTA VI is released, don’t be surprised if there are even more interesting ideas and innovations.
