Why GTA 6’s Female Protagonist Is Such A Big Deal

Grand Theft Auto 6 is rumored to have a playable female character, and it could mean a huge change for Rockstar and the GTA series itself.

A female protagonist will allegedly be playable in Grand Theft Auto 6, and it could be a huge deal for the franchise. Since 1997, the action-adventure series has had mostly male protagonists, with the last installment, GTA 5, featuring three playable characters in Michael, Franklin, and Trevor. While GTA 5‘s character switching feature was lauded, reports indicate that GTA 6 will have two playable characters instead, having ostensibly started out with four at the beginning of development.

Aside from GTA not having many female main characters, there are arguably negative representations of women within Rockstar’s games. The series’ depiction of sex workers has come in for particular criticism, while previous entries have also mocked feminist attitudes. Furthermore, Women in GTA may be obstacles for the male protagonists (such as Michael’s wife in GTA 5, who screams and cheats on him) or are portrayed as objects. While all characters in the series are exaggerated and satirical, the lack of female playable characters has exacerbated the problems with its depictions of women.

Related: GTA 6: Why A Female Protagonist Is Exactly What Rockstar Needs

There’s lots to be excited about regarding the rumored playable female protagonist in GTA 6, but one of them is related to authenticity. While previous GTA games have featured female criminal accomplices, none have had the same kind of depth as their male counterparts. Given GTA 6‘s characters are reported to be taking inspiration from Bonnie and Clyde – a real-life criminal duo who operated during the Great Depression – that should offer indication that its female lead will go some way in fixing that problem. Although seemingly counter-intuitive, an anti-hero female character who commits a crime (like the male protagonists in the series) will represent women as more three-dimensional characters. Having a female protagonist with power and agency could signal a fresh change in direction with GTA, and bring it more in line with Red Dead Redemption 2, which featured multiple well-developed female characters – most notably Sadie Adler.

Why Grand Theft Auto 6 Needs A Female Protagonist

The decision to have a female protagonist in GTA 6 could also help broaden the series’ appeal among women gamers. GTA’s audience base could be expanded by including a female protagonist as it may convince some players that the game offers a host of experiences. While it’s difficult to imagine GTA 6 being anything other than a huge financial success for Rockstar, it certainly wouldn’t hurt if the series broadened its appeal even further.

If the reports are true, then GTA 6 having a female protagonist would actually be a return to the series’ origins. Grand Theft Auto 1 & 2, as well as Grand Theft Auto Online, have had selectable female protagonists. Consequently, GTA 6 would be returning to the roots of the GTA series by having a playable female character. It’s really exciting that Grand Theft Auto 6 may be featuring a female protagonist, as it shows that Rockstar could be making positive changes.