If Game Informer’s massive cover story on Grand Theft Auto 6 wasn’t enough, it’s also dominating LOVE Magazine’s upcoming issue. Though available on October 5th, the publication shared several interesting snippets on Instagram. This includes shining more light on Lucia, someone who “had to be someone who wanted a better life for herself, and wouldn’t let the obstacles in the way of that life stop her from getting it,” per senior VP of narrative Rupert Humphries.
That doesn’t mean that Jason doesn’t have his own motivations. Writer Elizabeth Gauvey-Kern said, “We wanted both protagonists to be vulnerable, tough, flawed, right sometimes, wrong sometimes, able to learn from each other. That’s what we felt made them authentic, and a great team.”
Writer Alexa D’Agostino agrees, adding, “When you are focusing on writing a fully realised person with their own wants, you’re going to get something perfectly imperfect—with clichés, but also undeniably real.”
Of course, this is still a Grand Theft Auto title and for a pair that’s designed to be the modern-day equivalent of Bonnie and Clyde, you can expect “a pressure cooker for all kinds of insanity,” says Humphries.
“If you are going to put all this effort into creating a version of today’s world, it has to be more over the top, more insane, more in your face. Otherwise, you could just go outside and live in the real world.” In a separate quote, however, he notes that there’s “something hopeful and naive about going on the run and pushing a crime spree to its limit without worrying about the consequences.”
Why “naive”? Well, the Wanted system has evolved dramatically in GTA 6. Police will identify each character and doggedly pursue them instead of simply resetting after a period, which often means ditching a ride, changing clothes and more. Many individuals in Leonida are also as heavily armed, if not more, than the protagonists, so personal power feels a lot more grounded than before.
However, “hopeful” remains the key word. “Maybe the American Dream is more modest now. It’s a house for your family and your loans paid off instead of wild success…Miami and Southern Florida are a particular front line for this battle.” How this ties into Lucia’s personal journey remains to be seen, but the connections are hard to deny.
While Grand Theft Auto 6 launches on November 19th for Xbox Series X/S and PC, it’s getting an unusual pre-launch marketing campaign. On November 18th, the Miami HEAT will play as Vice City against the Milwaukee Bucks, complete with custom uniforms. Head here for more details.
