In 2018, Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser said that he was relieved not to release a GTA game during President Donald Trump’s first term, labeling the country’s atmosphere as “militant,” “angry,” and “beyond satire,” per PC Gamer.
At the time, the controversial franchise almost seemed determined not to make a comeback under another Trump era, but after postponing the game’s release date once again until 2026, here we are.
Yet, the most unexpected turn might not be the timing but the tone.
Judging from the official trailers released so far of the blockbuster game, Rockstar’s newest installment may appear less politically provocative than past chapters. While previous games lampooned the Bush and Obama years with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, GTA 6’s first look trailer seems unusually quiet on some current political affairs.
This raises the question of whether Rockstar has decided to soften its punches.
For decades, the GTA series thrived on its irreverence. It satirized Hollywood elites, corporate greed, mainstream media, and politicians, often attacking both sides of the aisle. But in an age where social media narratives can turn a satirical bit into a PR nightmare overnight, developers may now tread more carefully.
It’s worth noting that Rockstar has already reined in some of its trademark chaos.
In recent years, the company has censored radio segments, cut certain jokes, and scrubbed characters that might offend some growing modern sensibilities throughout its online version of GTA 5. These shifts may even reflect a bigger gaming trend — showing that creative risk-taking is often met with online outrage.
In that sense, Rockstar’s relative restraint might be their new strategy.
After all, while lampooning conservatives might earn applause in Hollywood, doing so in a game that previously sold over 215 million copies, per Statista, can alienate a huge customer base. And let’s be honest: suburban dads, oil rig workers, and former Marines – not environmental activists – are likely the ones who will preorder GTA 6 by the millions.
The early look at GTA 6 suggests a polished, visually stunning experience, but it could also be carefully manicured to avoid cultural landmines. In other words, many gamers may hope that the satire that once made the series infamous will not be sanitized in the upcoming release.
Dan Houser, who criticized Trump, left Rockstar Studios in 2020.
As of the time of publication, Houser and Rockstar had neither responded to The Dallas Express for comment on past remarks.