GTA 6 Extended Look Reveals Rockstar Has Added A Controversial Real-Life Trend

We just got the first official gameplay footage of "Grand Theft Auto 6" courtesy of Netflix and its "Grand Theft Auto: An Extended Look" special. The almost half-hour presentation confirmed that this will be the most detailed and realistic entry in the long-running franchise, giving us a look at everything from the new targeting system to the in-game physics and yes, the ability to pet dogs. One somewhat surprising addition, however, is Rockstar Games' decision to include streamers as part of the narrative. Of course, the "GTA" series is known for satirizing American culture, and social media played a big part in "Grand Theft Auto 5." But live streaming is new for them, and it will be interesting to see how fans react.

In "An Extended Look," we see a masked Lucia Caminos open the trunk of a stolen car only for what looks to be a teenager emerge. Far from being terrified, however, the teen in question is mid-stream, and announces he's taking part in the "Trunk challenge." Turns out Lucia stole his friend's car, prompting the streamer to ask his chat "What do I do?!" Next, we cut to Lucia fleeing police in that same car while the streamer hangs out the trunk and tells his viewers, "The actual cops are chasing us!"

Meanwhile, we see chat messages roll in on the side of the screen, which appear to confirm the streamer's name is "Camilo." Judging by the on-screen control instructions, players are able to expand the chat and "View Livestream." Just how that will work mid-chase remains to be seen, but the live streaming aspect of the game seems to be more than just the developers taking a quick shot at the trend during a cut scene.

"GTA 6: An Extended Look" was missing a critical gameplay feature, but one thing we do know is that Instagram analogue, Snapmatic, will return in "GTA 6." Lucia Caminos specifically mentions the social media app at one moment in the "Grand Theft Auto: An Extended Look" special. But beyond that, there are no further details about how the live streaming element will come into play or whether it will affect players' experience, such as helping police pinpoint their location, etc.

Live streaming has, of course, courted its share of controversy, especially so-called "trash streams" in which the streamer carries out dangerous or ill-advised actions to provoke a reaction among the public. Beyond that, I think it's fair to say the practice of live streaming in public is generally seen as annoying, whether it be due to the assumption that everybody is OK with potentially being captured on camera, the obnoxiously loud way in which many of these streamers speak, or the general self-importance associated with pointing a camera at your own face for extended periods.

Rockstar has always taken aim at annoying cultural trends, so it's not necessarily surprising to see live streaming form a part of "GTA 6." But it is surprising to see how fully realized this element is, with the ability to open and view livestreams and a rolling chat with dynamic messages. I think I speak for the collective "GTA" fandom when I say that Camilo and his ilk likely won't be sticking around for long once we get our hands on some weapons.