When GTA 6 arrives, GTA 5 will be pushing 12 years old – what's changed in the world since the last mainline Grand Theft Auto game?
Dec. 16, 2023Grand Theft Advent | From pandemics to presidents, a lot’s gone down over the last decade
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What’s changed in the word since GTA 5?
Welcome to Grand Theft Advent – a month-long celebration of Rockstar’s enduring crime sim series. Be sure to check in on ourGTA 6 coverage hubfor more every day throughout December.
Whether you’re a staunch PS5 fan, can’t get enough of Xbox Series X, or are lucky enough to own both, it goes without saying that our gear has been given multiple turbo-charged makeovers over the last decade that have boosted graphics, speed, and the general quality of our gaming experiences. GTA 5 was impressive enough when it launched on PS3 and Xbox 360, but two generations of consoles have been introduced over the years since.
Devastating plagues of global proportions might be nothing new for humanity in general, but for most of us, the COVID outbreak was the most universally-disruptive medical emergency in living memory. As good as it feels to put the worst of it in our collective rear view mirror, one glint of a silver lining is how many found solace in the world of video games.
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When GTA 5 came out, the American socio-political landscape was totally different. We had yet to experience the Trump presidency, barely anyone had heard of smashed avocado on toast, and the Florida Man meme (viaTwitter) had just been born. GTA 6’s portrayal of America beach-city life is sure to ruffle a few feathers as it pokes fun at idiosyncratic America-isms that are too ridiculous not to be true. Okay, so GTA 6’s return to Vice City is notreallyshowing us the Floridian city of Miami, but to say the similarities aren’t deliberate would be a lie.
No matter whether you’ve been part of the journey for decades or are getting geared up for your first GTA release, it’s the people who play the games that make them special. From subreddits to Twitter threads and beyond, the GTA player community has evolved over the years, incorporating new members and awaiting the next chapter as a unit, a driving force. GTA 6 will be a new game for a new, modern audience, and if the player base’s palpable excitement is anything to go by, it seems something new is exactly what we need.
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