The Rockstar co-founder was glad that GTA VI was not released in 2018 during the Trump era, but ironically, the game will be released during the term of the US president
Back in 2018, Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser was relieved to admit that he was glad not to release GTA 6 during Donald Trump's presidency - the political climate in the US seemed too polarised and absurd even for the series' sharp satire. Six years later, the release of GTA 6 will coincide with Trump's new term in office, presenting Rockstar with new challenges and dilemmas.
Here's What We Know
In his interview with GQ in 2018, Houser frankly explained that modern America has become so radicalised that it has become almost impossible to make fun of it - "some things are beyond satire, and things are changing so fast that jokes can become outdated in minutes". At the time, he was glad that Rockstar was working on Red Dead Redemption 2, where political themes are a thing of the past, rather than the modern GTA, which has always been famous for its ruthless parodies of current events.
Today, the situation takes on an ironic tone: GTA 6, which has been in development for more than a decade, will be released in the midst of Trump's second presidency, a scenario that seemed unlikely even for Rockstar in 2018. This adds even more resonance to the game, as the series has always been a mirror of American culture, making fun of everything from politics to the media.
However, judging by the first trailers, Rockstar decided to avoid direct political allusions. The video contains no jokes about the pandemic, masks, or MAGA, and even no hints of Trump - although fans do not rule out the appearance of parody characters in the final version. Perhaps the studio has chosen to create a "parallel America" that looks like the real one, but avoids the most controversial topics in order not to fall into the trap of fleeting relevance or become a target for political attacks.
This is an atypical approach for Rockstar, which has never shied away from provocations and has always gone all-in with its stories. But, as Hauser said, "these are strange times," and even the bravest developers are forced to find new ways to stay relevant without losing their own style.
GTA 6 is coming out on 26 May 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, and fans can expect a lot more news, analyses, and theories.
As a reminder, the second GTA 6 trailer sets new records: more than 45 million views in 12 hours and a frenzy on the Internet.
Source: PC Gamer
