Grand Theft Auto VI fans think Rockstar might’ve messed up when it comes to its own lore, but there may be more to it than meets the eye.
In GTA 6’s $100 Ultimate Edition, players will get access to a set of powerful revolvers, one for each protagonist. In the official description for the Hawk & Little Morgan Revolver, Rockstar states that they’ve been “sourced exclusively from the Vercetti Estate,” suggesting that they were taken from the mansion that Tommy Vercetti owns in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. However, there is one big problem: Tommy Vercetti isn’t supposed to exist in this GTA universe.
Rockstar Games did a Q&A in 2011 and revealed that the series’ PS2-era games are set in a different universe from the “HD games” (Xbox 360-era and onward). As such, players shouldn’t expect major characters to cross over, with the only real exception applying to a few background characters like Lazlow.
“The ‘universes’ are the worlds interpreted at different definitions, 2D, 3D, and high definition, so we felt brands and radio/background characters would exist in both, but three-dimensional characters would not,” said Rockstar. “This is the logic (as far as it could be considered logical) behind it – so no, we don’t believe any GTA 3 characters could exist in the GTA 4 universe.”
So, what’s going on here? Well, the simplest and most likely explanation is that it’s nothing more than an Easter egg. Grove Street was featured in Grand Theft Auto V, along with the Ballas gang, but it doesn’t necessarily mean CJ and his crew exist in GTA 5. A similar case could be made that the Vercetti Estate is simply a nod to the franchise’s history, in name only. It’s also not the only reference to Tommy in GTA 6.
A painting of a lizard wearing Tommy’s shirt can be spotted in the second GTA 6 trailer, and the pre-order bonus for the game adds weapon skins that resemble his shirt’s pattern. The second GTA 6 trailer also featured a glimpse at what appears to be a new version of Phil Cassidy, a character that was originally in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
In GTA 6, Phil owns a gun store and has both of his arms, unlike his 3D-era counterpart. He also appears to be in his 30s or 40s, whereas Phil from GTA: Vice City would likely be in his 70s. All this is to say that Rockstar may be playing a bit fast and loose with its universe. Maybe there’s a new version of Tommy Vercetti in GTA 6, similar to Phil. Or maybe it’s all just a fun Easter egg that we shouldn’t spend much time picking apart.
In related news, Rockstar Games has confirmed that GTA 6 will cost a whopping $80 and the game won’t be released on a physical disc. The developer also dropped over 60 new screenshots, which show off the game’s wide range of customization options, vehicles, and weapons. Rockstar is still keeping a tight lid on any plans for GTA Online’s future, though, as a store page for the game refers to the title as a “single player” experience.
Grand Theft Auto VI will release on November 19th for Xbox Series X|S and PS5, the latter of which is being marketed as the best place to play the game.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
