Grand Theft Auto is making a necessary change.
The renowned video game franchise has announced plans to debut its first female protagonist, according to IndieWire. More importantly, it is the first time that a woman will appear as a character within the game that doesn’t have to be “beaten, solicited for sex, or robbed.”
The character is set to make her official launch during the Grand Theft Auto VI series of the game. She will serve as a co-lead for the game’s “Bonnie and Clyde” inspired storyline and will be of Latina descent.
“Developers are also being cautious not to ‘punch down’ by making jokes about marginalized groups, the people said, in contrast with previous ‘GTA’ games,” Bloomberg shared in a report detailing the news.
The latest installment of Grand Theft Auto is a part of the developer’s 2024 fiscal year and has been in the works since 2014.
Originally, it was rumored that the developer, Take-Two, would refer to the game as “Project Americas” with most of the user’s experience taking place in territories modeled after North and South America.
A new map completely dispelled that narrative and showcases how the game’s central focus will be a fictionalized version of Miami.
Changing The Narrative
New missions and cities will come at later dates through various updates.
Additionally, the developer has shut down all rumors of turning the franchise into a motion picture, noting that it would “ruin” the game.
The Future Of Women In Gaming
As previously reported by AfroTech, leading gaming companies like Xbox are also doing their part to move the culture of women within the industry forward.
Recently, the Microsoft-led company revealed its Power Her Dreams Initiative, which tells the stories of groundbreaking women like Zaila Avant-Garde, narrated by Vanessa Bryant.
