There was never any doubt that Grand Theft Auto VI’s extended look would elicit a viral reaction from the internet. Having won the Game Awards’ Most Anticipated award twice consecutively, Rockstar’s forthcoming crime opus is one of the most frothed-over games in recent memory, or indeed ever. It’s nothing short of a cultural phenomenon.
One aspect of the game has provoked an unexpectedly vehement response on social media: not violence, but romance. Protagonists Lucia and Jason are in love, you see, and as a player, part of your job is keeping their spark alive and their relationship strong, so that their criminal escapades are underpinned by a strong connection to one another. Holding hands, enjoying a date at the beach, spontaneously texting one another when apart – all of these interactions will strengthen their bond.
You’ll be putting in a lot of work to ensure this couple thrives, which is why some people have come to believe that playing GTA VI counts as micro-cheating. Takes on this are all over social media. Multiple users have shared posts claiming that if you romance characters in video games such as GTA VI you’ve been unfaithful to your partner; TikTok account El Michelle remarked that simply playing the game is cheating.
And surely we all remember trying to persuade our Sims to get off with each other. For at least 20 years dating and romance have been a significant element of all sorts of different titles; there is an entire (immensely popular) genre of dating games devoted to playfully living out virtual relationships. Even so, due to its unrivalled online presence, GTA VI will be many people’s first exposure to the idea.
Video game newcomers on TikTok seem especially exercised about the lengths their partners will go to to maintain a happy in-game relationship with Lucia, though it’s worth pointing out that it goes both ways: playing as Lucia, you’ll have to put just as much effort into maintaining a strong relationship with Jason. (The notion of maxing out the romance with Jason hasn’t provoked nearly as intense a response.) It’s easy for people to revert to off-the-shelf misogynistic accusations about “jealous” and “overreactive” spouses in a situation like this, and indeed, many counter-commentators have done just that. In the comments on one Instagram video, someone opined that GTA VI “promotes lust”, resulting in a massive pile-on. But what if this isn’t knee-jerk jealousy?
Behind these rather laughable concerns about virtual girlfriends, there are valid insecurities here over the idea of one’s real-life partner being more invested in a fictional character than a real-life relationship. Especially for young people, we’re in an age of loneliness and disconnection, fuelled by being chronically online. It’s one of the greatest paradoxes of modern society: despite being able to instantly engage with anyone or anything, these interactions are superficial and fleeting.
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