Summary
GTA 6was already an extremely popular topic very well before it was officially announced, withGrand Theft Autofans looking for all sorts of clues about the next installment of the series in the various changes to Rockstar Games' social media accounts, updates forGTA 5orGTA Online, and so forth. Probably surpassing even the likes ofThe Elder Scrolls 6in terms of community hype,GTA 6released a reveal trailerearly in December, revealing that the game is indeed coming in 2025 as many had suspected, and it also features the series' first female protagonist in the form of Lucia. Although her story has not been made clear just yet, Lucia’s representation could makeGTA 6go fullBayonetta 3- and that’s not good.
GTA 6’s Luciawas leaked last year when Rockstar Games was victim to cyberattacks that ended up revealing around 90 clips from the still-in-development title, all done by a single individual. Alongside her was another supposed playable protagonist called Jason, who is most likely the man Lucia is seen with in theGrand Theft Auto 6reveal trailer - someone who she is clearly in a romantic relationship with. This was also leaked way before the trailer’s debut, with sources describing Lucia and Jason’s story as another “Bonnie and Clyde.” As much as this could sound exciting for fans, the series' first female protagonist shouldn’t run the risk of becoming another Bayonetta.
How Bayonetta 3 Dropped the Ball on Female Empowerment
Bayonetta Goes From Queer Hero to Depending From a Male Character
Even thoughBayonetta 3was still received positively and likely set up the stage for a saga reboot or new beginnings, seeing how Bayonetta sacrifices herself so that her daughter Viola can have a future, the game had an issue with the character’s depiction.Bayonettahas always been about female empowerment- from her character design and dialogue to her incredible powers and gameplay mechanics, and there were even several supposedly canonical representations of the titular witch in intimate, romantic relationships with another woman - Jeanne.
Not only did all the hints toward a lesbian relationship between Bayonetta and Jeanne get thrown out of the window in the third game, but the entire characterization of the Umbra Witch was wasted. This is because Bayonetta’s sexualization has always been a pillar of the series, but it was made tolerable because she was the ultimate heroine and the one who saved the day, whereas inBayonetta 3the roles are reversed, and she needs saving from an unlikely character - Luka - who had barely been used for comedic relief up to that point. Luka even goes on to be shown as Bayonetta’s canonical lover and father to Viola, with Jeanne becoming an afterthought, and his sudden new powers are the ones that truly shine, erasing years ofgood female representationfor the series.
Why GTA 6 Needs a Strong Series-First Female Protagonist
GTA 6’s Lucia Should be Bonnie More Than She is Part of ‘Bonnie and Clyde’
In the case ofGTA 6, it’s unclear what direction the story will take, but Lucia shouldn’t be treated as a surrogate protagonist or as someone who depends on her relationship when it comes to her motives and narrative. The first female protagonist ofGTAgames should be as tough as they come and be her own hero in a world where she is most likely going to be seen as a villain, or at the very least a criminal, from the get-go.
WhileLucia and Jason’s Bonnie and Clyde relationship inGTA 6should come into play for the game’s story, assuming this is the direction the title is heading into, it shouldn’t be front and center for Lucia’s character arc and possible character growth. If this is instead the case, then there is a chance that Lucia will become another case of not-so-great female representation in the gaming industry; one where female protagonists likeHorizon’s Aloy or the character from theFable 4trailer are bullied for their looks, and where reliance on male characters is all too common.
Grand Theft Auto 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.
