Rockstar Games is set to release Grand Theft Auto 6 on Thursday, Nov. 19, with both PlayStation and Xbox saying it’s the most preordered game in the history of either platform’s digital storefront. Given the 13 years of buildup and hype surrounding the game, that’s perhaps not surprising.
Though the series has evolved over time, Grand Theft Auto has been a pop culture behemoth since its inception in 1997, thanks to its biting satire, complex storylines and cinematic gameplay.
I have so many memories of playing Grand Theft Auto games at an age some might call “too young.” I’d go over a friend’s house and we’d boot up Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on his PlayStation 2 and do whatever we wanted. It wasn’t until later that I found out there were missions to accomplish. And the funniest part for me was failing the mission Wrong Side of the Tracks in San Andreas. The character Big Smoke would utter the iconic line, “All we had to do was follow the damn train, CJ!” That line is funny, goofy and a good reminder that beneath the guns and violence, these are inherently silly, unserious games.
I still quote the policemen from GTA London 1969 who yell, “Stop right there! Oi!”
