Grand Theft Autois a franchise known for immersive cities of complex characters who largely coexist in a greater shared world, all of which serve open-ended narratives that have encouraged players to fill in the gaps with their own speculation. The hidden depths of a series so associated with absurd, crass humor might not seem too substantial at first glance, but deeper investigation can make some compelling cases by piecing in-game clues together acrossGrand Theft Autoand even its fellow Rockstar titles.
There have been infamous urban legends likeBigfoot inGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the payoff it later got inGTA5, and the actual UFO sightings that are possible to witness in that same title. These kinds of occurrences are actually confirmed instead of just being theories, however, and there have been more speculative matters that exist as mysteries with some form of evidence in theGTAtitles to offer explanations.
Trevor is shown to idolize the late Brad several times throughoutGTA5, and his admiration has led to some justified speculation about the dead member of the old heist crew. In addition to remarks from Lester which paint Brad as unpredictable and dangerous, it seems like this fallen criminal was an especially dark individual even among his violent friends.Grand Theft Auto 5’s canonical killer Trevoris indeedshown to have some peculiar appreciation for certain people seemingly without reason at times, but his strong reaction to learning the truth about Brad in the mission “Bury the Hatchet” ominously implies that perhaps Trevor wasn’t always the most violent person in his circle.
Lamar Was Originally Meant to Replace Franklin as a Playable Character in GTA 5
The Implications of Unused Voice Lines
The voice actor of Lamar Davis, Slink Johnson, initially hinted that additional dialogue had been recorded for his character which never made it into the final product. The most complete theory that has formed suggests that Lamar would have served as a possible post-game protagonist following a cut ending that saw Franklin die. While Lamar did eventually receive what is essentially a playable cameo role in a later DLC segment related toGTA Online’s LD Organics business, these earlier comments led to speculation that he had a greater role in the story originally. Johnson eventually confirmed in a Reddit AMA that there was likely going to be far more Lamar content.
Victor Vance’s Death in Vice City Was a Decoy Fake-Out
Vice City Stories' Contradictions Don’t Fully Add Up
Victor Vance, theprotagonist ofVice City Storiesand brother of Lance Vance, is killed during the opening drug deal gone wrong that kicks off Tommy Vercetti’s own adventure. Victor’s characterization in his own game, however, saw him shown as more of a reluctant and cautious criminal who could hardly be expected to put himself in such a reckless situation. This discrepancy, along with his changed appearance and even differing accent, has spawned the theory that Victor could have sent a decoy to die in his place after securing his wealth at the end of his own game.
The Rockstar Shared Universe Theory
There’s a long history of easter eggs across Rockstar releases, but tying them all together has led to the idea that the studio’s games could be set in the same world. The Epsilon Program cult ofGTA5depicts a figure with a birthmark that looks nearly identical to that of the characterFrancis Sinclair fromRed Dead Redemption 2, and the connection between them is further nodded at by a book titled “Red Dead” by J. Marston in the same game. There are also direct ties betweenGTAandManhunt, with Carcer City being mentioned directly by Michael as the site of his first bank robbery after popping up onGTA3’s radio. EvenBullygets references, with one being Bullworth Academy’s coat of arms showing up inGTA Online.
Grand Theft Auto Online
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience GTA Online, a dynamic and ever-evolving online universe for up to 30 players, including all existing gameplay upgrades and content released since launch ready to enjoy solo or with friends.Career ProgressSee all the challenges you’ve completed in your GTA Online Career. you’re able to also discover new ones and earn valuable rewards as you rise through the criminal ranks.Personalize Your PlatesFavorite ride missing something? Create your own personalized license plates and fit them at LS Customs.
