“Is GTA 6 woke?” Certain changes at Rockstar are giving gamers anxiety regarding the future of the long-running franchise.
Is there any other video game in the world more anticipated right now than Grand Theft Auto 6? No, there isn’t.
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games
READ: God of War Director David Jaffe Claims Sexist Rant Against Vara Dark Wasn’t Sexist
GTA 5 was released in 2013 and sold like hot cocoa on a cold winter day at the North Pole. It’s no surprise, then, that everyone and their mother is eagerly awaiting GTA 6.
The wait has been long—12 years and counting—and we still don’t have the game in our hands. However, in 2023, Rockstar released the first GTA 6 trailer, and it was nothing short of stunning. Yet, as quickly as the excitement for the trailer spread, concerns began to surface.
A Shift in Protagonists
People started asking “is GTA 6 woke?” after getting a glimpse at the game’s new playable character.
One of the most notable shifts in GTA 6 is that it will introduce the series’ first female protagonist. While every previous entry featured male protagonists, GTA 6 will include both a female and a male lead. This dual-protagonist setup, however, has not fully alleviated the skepticism that some fans feel about the game.
To be clear, criticizing the game solely because it includes a female protagonist isn’t a valid argument. Rockstar has a stellar track record of delivering exceptional stories and well-written characters.
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games
From Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2 to the chaotic yet compelling trio of Trevor, Michael, and Franklin in GTA 5, Rockstar has consistently excelled at crafting characters that resonate with players. If the only concern is the inclusion of a female lead, that alone should not warrant criticism.
In fact, the idea of a female protagonist in the GTA series isn’t new. Back in 2011 or 2012, Dan Houser, Rockstar co-founder and writer, was asked if the series would ever feature a female lead.
His response was clear: if the story called for it, then absolutely.
Its even been speculated that before his departure from Rockstar in 2020, Houser had completed or was close to completing a treatment for GTA 6. Reportedly, the game was to draw inspiration from a Bonnie-and-Clyde-style story, influenced by Warren Beatty’s Bonnie and Clyde and Tony Scott’s True Romance.
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games
If that’s the case, Houser himself endorsed the idea of telling a compelling story that could work with a female protagonist. That should put this concern to rest, right?
And yet, there’s another underlying issue here—one that points to a deeper worry about the future of Rockstar Games. If you’ve been paying close attention, you might have already noticed the first real concern:
Dan Houser left Rockstar in 2020.
The Departure of Key Creatives
In 2023, Michael Unsworth, another veteran writer and key creative behind GTA 4, GTA 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2, also left the company.
Why did these departures happen? What’s going on at Rockstar?
To this day, no one really knows. Houser, notoriously private and media-shy, has remained silent on the matter, and Unsworth’s exit only adds to the uncertainty.
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games
Having seen many other companies lose senior talent or founding creators, I know how often this spells trouble for their future projects. When the key people behind a studio’s greatest successes are no longer involved, it raises valid concerns about the quality of their upcoming titles.
In fact, the skepticism many gamers now feel about GTA 6 may not be entirely unwarranted—not because of the inclusion of a female protagonist, but because several of the individuals who helped helm Rockstar’s best games are no longer part of the company.
The Changing Landscape of Beloved Franchises
It’s also important to acknowledge a broader trend that has fueled these concerns.
Many gamers feel that sequels to beloved franchises—previously renowned for strong storytelling and memorable characters—have been increasingly replaced with lackluster writing and poorly conceived protagonists. Hence why so many are asking, “is GTA 6 woke?”
This sentiment, often described as the “replacement” of strong male characters with so-called “female Mary Sues,” is not limited to gaming. Similar criticisms have been leveled at films and TV shows. While I don’t blame or judge those who feel this way, it’s crucial that this fear doesn’t blind us to nuance.
A screenshot from Star Wars Outlaws (2024), Ubisoft
There have indeed been instances where poorly handled creative decisions have alienated fans.
For example, The Last of Us Part II faced backlash for its treatment of beloved characters, Star Wars: The Last Jedi divided audiences over its portrayal of legacy characters, and concerns are already emerging about Ghost of Yotei, the sequel to Ghost of Tsushima.
However, it’s equally important not to leap to conclusions without evidence. Take, for instance, a recent picture released by Rockstar celebrating their female employees. Some used this as evidence to argue that GTA 6 will be “woke” or politically correct, but it’s worth noting the image was posted back in 2019 to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Meet some of the talented #womenbehindthegames from Rockstar North and join us this #internationalwomensday in celebrating all the amazing women working in game development. Follow @rockstarcareers to see how you can join us. pic.twitter.com/IEDUDm3yKW
— Rockstar Careers (@rockstarcareers) March 8, 2019
Context matters, and while such skepticism reflects broader fears, we shouldn’t let it overshadow a fair evaluation of the game itself.
That said, there are legitimate reasons to worry about Rockstar’s direction—specific actions that hint at the possibility of a shift in the company’s creative philosophy. These subtle signs raise questions about whether Rockstar might be headed toward a “woke takeover.”
Signs of a Changing Rockstar
One notable example of Rockstar’s shift came in 2022, when they censored content in the Grand Theft Auto V: Expanded & Enhanced edition.
This updated version of the game removed elements that allegedly maligned individuals who identify with a gender that differs from their anatomy. These changes included the removal of certain caricatured NPCs and in-game props, such as signage referencing drag performers. Dialogues perceived as mocking toward the rainbow community were also edited out.
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games
While some argued these changes were necessary to modernize the game, others saw it as a troubling sign of self-censorship.
What makes this decision particularly concerning is its inconsistency with GTA’s longstanding satirical identity. The Grand Theft Auto series has always thrived on equal-opportunity satire, mocking all aspects of American culture without singling out or shielding specific groups.
From politicians to celebrities, no one has been spared from GTA’s biting humor. Yet, the removal of content raises questions: why censor only this? Why remove jokes about one group while leaving countless other instances of parody intact?
Moreover, reports suggest that these edits were made due to internal pressures at Rockstar, with certain individuals pushing for the changes after Dan Houser’s departure in 2020.
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games
READ: Obsidian Whistlebower Tells All on ‘Avowed’ Art Director Matt Hansen Amid Racist Hiring Allegations
This raises an uncomfortable question: is Rockstar moving away from its fearless approach to satire in favor of a more sanitized, cautious tone? And, of course, the larger question, is GTA 6 woke if they abandon this trademark?
The very essence of GTA’s humor has been its willingness to provoke and challenge societal norms, and decisions like these risk diluting what has made the series so distinctive.
Such concerns become more pronounced when viewed alongside broader trends in entertainment, where similar self-censorship and fear of backlash have altered the creative direction of games, movies, and TV shows.
For Rockstar, a company once celebrated for its audacity, this shift may signify deeper changes in its internal philosophy—changes that fans fear could undermine the bold storytelling that defined its greatest hits.
The Certifications That Could Change Rockstar Forever.
There’s quite a few alarming factors at play for anyone wondering “is GTA 6 woke?” Yet the gravest and perhaps most damaging revelation about Rockstar isn’t found in its content edits or the departure of senior staff, but in what can be uncovered about those who now work there.
A troubling pattern emerges when examining the certifications held by Rockstar employees, particularly among senior members. At least 60 employees have completed a course called Unconscious Bias, with many of these certifications being awarded between 2020 and 2021—the same period during which Dan Houser left the company.
A screenshot of the Unconscious Bias course – LinkedIn
So, what is this course? The Unconscious Bias certification, as described on platforms like LinkedIn Learning, aims to teach participants to recognize and address unconscious prejudices they may hold.
While its stated goal is to foster inclusivity and fairness in workplaces, the course has been widely criticized for its potentially divisive nature. The training focuses heavily on racial and gender dynamics, framing biases as something that predominantly privileged groups (such as white employees) need to address. This can create an environment where some individuals feel unfairly singled out based solely on their identity.
Critics of such courses argue that they perpetuate the very biases they claim to dismantle. For example, the Unconscious Bias training often emphasizes systemic racism and privilege in ways that risk oversimplifying complex social issues.
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games
Instead of fostering unity, these courses can alienate employees by assigning collective guilt or blame to certain groups while portraying others as perpetual victims. Such frameworks are not only reductive, but also inherently biased—ironically contradicting the course’s own purpose.
In Rockstar’s case, the proliferation of this certification raises serious questions about the company’s direction.
A search showing that more than 60 Rockstar employees have the Unconscious Bias certification – LinkedIn
Why was such a course implemented widely around the same time key creative minds like Dan Houser and Leslie Benzies left?
Furthermore, why does this training appear to be disproportionately targeted at white employees? If the goal was true equality and inclusivity, why adopt an approach that inherently divides rather than unites?
The timing of these certifications—coinciding with major departures and significant shifts in company culture—suggests a deeper issue. The adoption of such ideologies risks influencing creative decisions, potentially prioritizing corporate optics over the bold, unfiltered storytelling that once defined Rockstar. For a company built on satire and irreverence, embracing such divisive practices could erode the very foundation of its identity.
A screenshot of the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging course page – LinkedIn
Another certification among Rockstar employees raises even more questions about the company’s direction and the possibility of a shift toward political correctness. This certification, called Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB), appears to be more broadly distributed than the Unconscious Bias certification.
Unlike the latter, which seemed disproportionately aimed at white employees, the DIB certification spans multiple demographics within the company.
According to LinkedIn Learning, the DIB course aims to promote inclusivity by fostering awareness and respect for diversity. On the surface, this might seem well-intentioned, but critics argue that such programs often prioritize compliance over genuine understanding. Instead of creating meaningful change, they risk becoming performative measures designed to enhance corporate image.
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games
READ: ‘Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’ on Steam for $3.49, Can Sweet Baby Bomb Go Any Lower?
Additionally, such programs have been criticized for stifling creativity and open dialogue. By emphasizing politically correct behavior and language, they may discourage employees from taking creative risks or expressing unconventional ideas. For a company like Rockstar, whose identity has long been tied to bold satire and fearless storytelling, this shift in workplace culture could have significant consequences.
The presence of both the Unconscious Bias and Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging certifications suggests cultural change within Rockstar. Such a transformation risks alienating loyal fans and undermining Rockstar’s legacy as a provocateur in the gaming industry.
A Crossroads for Rockstar and Grand Theft Auto 6
I must say that the skepticism—and perhaps even paranoia—that gamers feel when asking “Is GTA 6 woke?” is not entirely unfounded. There are clear signs that suggest a shift has occurred at Rockstar, and not necessarily for the better. These signs point to a company whose focus may now be shifting toward the so-called “modern audience”—a demographic that, despite being constantly invoked by corporations, often seems ill-defined or nonexistent.
Is it possible that Rockstar, like other companies such as Ubisoft, Bioware, and Rocksteady, has fallen into the trap of what some call “woke indoctrination,” which seems to permeate the entertainment industry today? I don’t know for certain, and I genuinely hope not. But I also cannot ignore the signs—signs that gamers are noticing, signs that feel clearer today than they did before.
A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games
These signs have led to disappointment in other franchises, and there is a lingering fear that Rockstar may follow suit.
Still, there is a glimmer of hope. Rupert Humphries, a key figure who co-wrote Red Dead Redemption 2 alongside Dan Houser and Michael Unsworth, is reportedly still involved in GTA 6’s single-player development. His continued presence suggests that Rockstar may still retain some of the talent and vision that brought us some of gaming’s greatest achievements.
In the end, all we can do is wait. As much as I hope that the fears of gamers—including my own—are proven wrong, only the release of GTA 6 will determine whether we are to be disappointed or pleasantly surprised. For now, the anticipation remains, and we await the next chapter in the Grand Theft Auto saga.
What do you think? Is GTA 6 woke? Or will we all be pleasantly surprised when it finally releases?
UP NEXT: Rachel Zegler’s Snow White Trailer Finally Releases on YouTube, Dislikes Begin to Pour Upon Disney
Now that comments are finally back, I can tell you exactly what’s going to happen with this game.
It won’t be like Saint’s Woke or Failguard where the game is explicitly designed to piss normal gamers off, nor will it be like TLoU Part 2 where the narrative stops completely dead in its tracks at several points to address someone or something rainbow-y. On the surface, GTA VI will seem completely normal. But zoom in, and eagle-eyed gamers will begin to see the cracks in the facade. There will be several small things; a Pride flag here, a they/them there, but nothing that’ll be in your face. The real problem is that, just like with that GTA V DLC that got censored, the rainbow community will be completely off-limits as far as jokes and scrutiny goes. The expected satire that the series was built on won’t be there, even in this day and age where all we seem to see is satire and find ourselves questioning our VERY screwed up world every single day. It’s a golden age for comedy, but almost no one has the stones to make the jokes we all want to hear.
Regardless, the game will still make bank overnight. This will sell no matter what they put into it, and that’s the worst part. Gamers and normies alike are finally waking up, but the allure of GTA VI is just too much for the vast majority to pass up. Hopefully with how popular the game and IP are, the scrutiny will come fast and hit hard. Ideally, there will be so much backlash that this will be the final defeat of “modern” AAA gaming and will usher in the Second Great Video Game Crash that we all desperately need to happen in order for the healing to begin. I’ll bet Elon will have a few things to say about this game if the worst comes to pass, and his words carry weight to them.
Or I’m completely wrong and we’re all worried for nothing. Guess we’ll see soon enough.
I’m sure this game will get a lot more blind buys than many other big franchises, but I think it’s also under a lot more scrutiny this time around. As a PC gamer I was never in the position to buy Rockstar games blind, because I get A LOT of time to judge the console versions, before the PC version even comes out. The only thing I’ve bought blind was the quality of the port, I guess, but they’ve always been pretty good.
I don’t wanna predict how it’s going to be, because we haven’t really seen any massive red flags for this particular game, yet. After seeing things go south plenty of times, whenever they have a female protagonist, I know how people feel about them and they’ve become a red flag all on their own, but that’s really all there is so far. The trailer definitely didn’t look woke to me. If the game retains its sarcastic and cynic way to look at all things, then I don’t mind whatever they put in there, tbh. It is, after all, supposed to be a parody of the real world, and it would honestly feel weird if it wasn’t at least as crazy as that. But I am afraid that they’re afraid to make fun of everyone, and that GTA of all games might start trying to moralize to us.
Already the bots and the blind defenders are out on any video or article critical of this new progressive religion.
Most people don’t realize it was a reaction to 2010 when their messiah was trounced in the midterms. Took 4 years for gamers to notice.
Hope that they wake up, if GTA 6 is a big letdown which is more and more likely.
Rockstar execs just want another GTA Online so if most gamers dive into only and ignore the garbage single player the nuligion will advertise it as a big validation of their message and we get another 10 years of garbage games before the next wave fails.
I believe there will be a lot of blind buying and then regret afterwards. I personally know three people who preordered a PS5 pro just to have in the case that there was a shortage of supply in systems and they wanted one before GTA6 dropped. I see PS5s for sale everywhere so I’m not seeing the shortage of systems here.
I haven’t played a GTA game since 3 so I have no opinion on the game itself. I do see and hear a lot of blind loyalty to rockstar and the series regardless of the warning signs… I’ve learned most people prefer to learn by their own failures instead of considering the wisdom and experience of others.
Honestly I always knew thia game was going to be woke garbage. Didn’t have the slightest doubt about it. It will probably be at a level where normies can’t tell at first glance, but it will be there. Normies will buy.
Personally, I refuse to buy until I get some reviews from trusted sources. Note that I trust a lot of names on here far more than any awards or journalists in name only.
You guys really hate the lgbtq that much huh? Jesus christ. That explains why y’all wanna kill them in videos games(and probably irl) so darn much
Only when they make it their entire personalities and force the world to affirm, admire, and celebrate them under threats of destroying entire businesses and livelihoods, yes. And that’s mostly just the -TQ+’s, not even the LGB’s. Pretty easy to hate people like that. No one’s talking about killing anyone except for you, though. Gotta keep up that whole “genocide” charade, right?
Without lies the rainbow cult dies.
Given how common self-harm is within the alphabet community, can we chastise the alphabet community for harming its members?
could’ve fooled me xd
The troll freaks arrived too.
It’s a cult that poisons everything it touches because its zealots can’t not proselytize whenever they are in control
As demonstrated by people who demand including alphabets into GTA, a game series famous for going on rampages, and then gets upset when people plan to do what you always do in GTA games. So then they demand that players not be able to go on rampages anymore.
Since you know nothing about GTA, let me explain.
The whole point of GTA games, what sets them apart, is the ability to go on a rampage and killing spree.
If you’re adding in various characters, the whole point is to let them be killed.
Asking to have such things added and making them immune effectively changes the nature of the game. Much like how Luke Skywalker is a very different character when Disney writes him.
You have a choice: do you want certain groups excluded the way the game doesn’t have children in it, do you want them treated like everyone else, or do you want to change the game in ways that make it stop feeling like the GTA franchise?
Same way so many other games have been nerfed down to pathetic shells of their existence, we can expect that of this one.
Hope that helps.
Why do people just deliberately miss the point 🤦🏾♂️
Austrian painter man of the year put all his grievances on a few groups. Your religion blames…
Men
White people
Christians
Sounds familiar to anyone outside common core nuligion, err I mean common core education as designed by Messiah 44.
Your lies are transparent. Right now being an acronym or women comes with massive privilege unless you are a female athlete having men break all the world records by becoming an acronym for attention, fame and sympathy.
I never see a solution from your group except to empower you with more power.
Climate change (new terms since ice age and global warming branding didn’t work) comes with the solution to empower your billionaire’s new companies like Bill Gates.
Institutional isms, only more power to you is the solution and even black messiah president isn’t enough to counter your false narrative of institutional anything.
You lose elections, open the border and remove citizenship verification on elections. Force migrants onto the tax payer then tell them they are evil empowering your lies,
You are an open book, so transparent.
Dam, didn’t know I was even part of this religion you speak of lol
The LGBT mafia hates normal people and want to destroy every single good think that exist to “include” them while excluding everything else, because they are unable to create a single good story or game from zero, they are unqualified DEI hires after all
As a strong ally I demand that we target the group responsible for taking the most Trans lives! Wait, who was that again?
Honestly stop being a baby and act like we want to kill them. We just don’t want society to revolve around their underdeveloped narcissistic feelings. If anything I’ve seen more desires for violence on the other side. Whereas for us, just saying there’s only 2 genders is “violence”.
From Rockstar Dev in Newcastle. There is something “Trans” in GTA 6 involving the main character that is designed to annoy and piss off all the GTA fans.
Lol no there’s not.
If this game will be woke I will not buy it and I don’t care what franchise is it. Be tolerate to self disrespect is pathetic.
[…] Culturally Divisive Content in Video Games to Children, Sweet Baby Inc. Connection Uncovered– Is GTA 6 Woke? DEI Employee Certifications Highlight the Quiet Shift Threatening Rockstar ∟Anime GTA is what we’ve always wanted ∟It’s not even a tough call […]
You people need to take your meds and relax, you’re blowing this entire thing out of proportion for absolutely no logical reason. So basically 60 out of the 2000+ Rockstar employees did a dumb DEI course and a few important people left the company over the past 12 years (which is a very common occurrence within companies) so what? I can guarantee that a huge part of Rockstar still remains the same as it was when GTA5 and RDR2 released. Dumbasses saying “I knew it was going to be woke garbage” and “Normies will still buy as Normies won’t notice, but I will as I’m a superior know it all”, you know absolutely nothing about the game yet. Wait until we get more info about the game or wait until it releases before forming such strong and skewed opinions. It can be woke or it can be a classic GTA, I’m putting my bets on the latter as I’m an optimist and I’ve seen all of the leaks. In the leaks you could see classic Rockstar writing with their usual humor and jokes. So everyone please just give it time, I’m sure we won’t be disappointed.
[…] before the release of GTA 5, Dan Houser was asked about the inclusion of a female protagonist in an interview and he said, “if the story called for it, then absolutely.” So it is pretty much clear that […]