The Grand Theft Auto games are a series with a controversial history. Each release was met with mainstream media and angry parents criticizing the game left and right for its brash approach to, and in some cases glorification of, sex, violence, and drug use. An uninformed public behind the times doesn’t seem to realize that the games are intended for an adult audience, and suddenly you have Fox News blaming the game and developers when an eight year old shoots his grandmother. I’m a huge fan of the series and will be the first to defend it when people want to drag it through the dirt, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind to some blatant issues when it comes to the way Rockstar approaches the series. Sure, the games largely deal with a seedy criminal element, but is sexism a necessary part of that formula? With Grand Theft Auto VI, is it time to see fleshed out female characters – or even a female protagonist? I sure think so.
Everyone has their favorite Grand Theft Auto protagonist, whether it’s Claude from GTA 3, Niko from 4, or the unique trio of protagonists in Grand Theft Auto V, there’s a decent amount of variation between characters. What all recent games have in common, however, is gender. All protagonists after the original game (which we’ll discuss below), and even all of the characters of substance (with few exceptions) are male. The criminal element is central to Grand Theft Auto, but there are female criminals in real life, so why not in the game? Rockstar has even shown that they can pull off a great and engaging story with more than one main character, so why can’t one of them be a woman in Grand Theft Auto VI? Rockstar’s games in general have almost exclusively featured male protagonists, with popular titles Bully and Red Dead Redemption also starring a male character, and it’s time for that to change with Grand Theft Auto VI.
Rockstar has proven that they have the chops to create engaging stories, but they’re not very diverse at all. The majority of female characters are portrayed as dumb, annoying, trashy, or “the bitch”. The argument that the genre in general lends itself towards male characters is flawed, too, as fellow criminal-centric series Saint’s Row allows for female character creation.
I’m certain fans of the series will be quick to point out the original Grand Theft Auto where players could choose between an equal amount of female characters, but story in Grand Theft Auto was non-existent and selection was just aesthetics. Calling them characters is even rather generous. If you’re going to stick to this point, the question remains: Why did Rockstar move backwards? Grand Theft Auto VI is the perfect opportunity for Rockstar to catch up with more progressive developers and show they have the ability to create more complex female characters that can actually past the Bechdel Test.
I’m not alone in the argument that the Grand Theft Auto series is misogynistic. Reviews were extremely critical of the title’s treatment of women. The New York Times spoke of the game’s “lack of interest in women as something other than lustful airheads”. Gamespot’s reviewer pointed out “exaggerations of misogynistic undercurrents in our own society, but not satirical ones. With nothing in the narrative to underscore how insane and wrong this is, all the game does is reinforce and celebrate sexism.” The game doesn’t just fail to include “great” female characters – it’s exclusively dominated by awful ones. Grand Theft Auto VI deserves a story that celebrates women (even if they’re criminals) rather than lazily using them as comic relief or a point of contention.
Critics of the diversity argument may point to Grand Theft Auto V’s online mode as a medium for female players to create their own criminal, but despite the huge community in Grand Theft Auto Online, the games are still largely single player experiences. There’s very little story behind online characters, and while players are free to make their own, a lot of people play games to be told a story rather than create one.
Video games are no longer a medium dominated by men. While men may be the majority still, an almost equal amount of women consider themselves gamers. We’ve seen other studios provide diverse characters that provide an inclusive experience. Bioware is well-known for their progressive approach to characters, albeit with mixed results, and their games have drawn in a wide audience from many different backgrounds. It’s long overdue for Rockstar to ditch tired cliches. Give us something fresh in Grand Theft Auto VI.
Gaming
Want Diablo 4 immortality? Hardcore Level 100 Before Most Others

The devilish launch of Diablo 4 is days away (less for Ultimate Edition buyers). Blizzard has promised the ultimate reward for the first 1000 players to accomplish level 100 on Hardcore Mode: a statue of in-game antagonist Lillith.
Think you can cheat death?
Reach level 100 on hardcore mode and tweet #Diablo4Hardcore with proof to have your username immortalized on a statue of Lilith.
Offer limited to first 1000, restrictions apply: https://t.co/TLWxZwG0aQ
Get started June 1st. pic.twitter.com/pvVLZNPgx8
— Diablo (@Diablo) May 26, 2023
Diablo 4’s Hardcore Mode is a character-creation-only difficulty adjuster. It automatically deletes characters when they die, making things infinitely harder regardless of World Tier. But 100? That’s several playthroughs on increasingly difficult World Tiers with new adversaries in harsher setups and about 150 hours of flawlessly rapid gameplay.
Honoring the dying.
Being remembered with those brave souls lost on the journey is the ultimate gamer boast. Do you dare?
Gaming
Layers of Fear PS5, PS4 Trophy List Promises a Spooky Platinum

Bloober Team’s survival horror game Layers of Fear is terrifying. The Trophy List on Exophase just appeared, and players will have to go crazy to obtain Platinum.
With a Silver Trophy like “a new way” requiring players to “live through the third conversation” (and a few of Bronzes for surviving the previous two) and another called “face your fears” appearing when you “see your enemy and fail”, we might chase this one with the lights on.
Do you like Layers of Fear’s whole trophy list? Do you want the Plat?
Gaming
One of Sony’s Most Viewed PS Showcases

The PlayStation Showcase, which divided fans and prompted our full-throated Reaction, was a ratings winner. Gamesight’s number crunchers found that PlayStation fans were drawn in by the appeal alone, even though many of the titles we wanted to see didn’t show up.
🎮🔎 @PlayStation Showcase 2023: Viewership Analysis on @Twitch and @YouTube
Our team took a deep dive into the PlayStation Showcase performance on Twitch from 2019 through 2023, the first year without #E3.
Here's what we discovered:
1️⃣ The 2023 Showcase had the second-highest… pic.twitter.com/YVJbRiUTjc— Gamesight (@gamesight) May 26, 2023
It’s possible certain Showcase games were withheld. Summer Game Fest may bring something? Watched the big spectacle live?
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