With Grand Theft Auto 6 expected to arrive later this year, speculation regarding how its new characters will be handled has become a major focus on the franchise's community. Apart from how Rockstar Games handles the introduction of Lucia, however, fans are also looking forward to any potential references or updates associated with favorite characters from past entries. Given the opportunities of the Vice City setting Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature, certain returns would feel more thematically appropriate than others.
When looking into the possibility of faces crossing over between titles, it's important to recognize that GTA is divided into two separate timelines that are defined by the transition into GTA4. It's much more reasonable to expect elements from the more recent Grand Theft Auto HD Universe to appear in the upcoming title, as it's been heavily implied that the 3D Universe is not necessarily canon anymore. With various easter eggs having contradicted that distinction over the years, it's not out of the question that anyone from the past could fill a new role in some capacity.
The Argument for a Second Grand Theft Auto Remastered Collection
The first Grand Theft Auto remastered trilogy may not have gone too well, but there's a chance for Rockstar to redeem itself with a second collection.
The Potential for Passing the Torch to the New Protagonist of Vice City
Tommy Vercetti Appearing as an Aging Crime Boss in Grand Theft Auto 6 Could Be a Full Moment
As one of the icons of the series, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City's Tommy Vercetti represents the last excursion into the titular location that many players enjoyed. It would therefore be fitting to see him interact with Lucia in any form, but the arc which saw him rise from betrayed ex-convict to crime kingpin is unlikely to make dealing with him a simple task. Whether he ends up as a mission giver or an outright antagonist, Tommy has a justified explanation for showing up, being easily able to reflect just how much his city has changed over time.
Other Past Playable Characters Are Ideal for Cameos
While they might have less substantial ties to the Grand Theft Auto 6's Vice City setting, the beloved status of the likes of CJ Johnson and Niko Bellic left players searching for any sign of them in GTA5 for years. Actually having one of these characters explicitly appear in a limited capacity could finally provide that catharsis, but the fan service they bring shouldn't overshadow the strength of a new, original plot.
GTA Online's Popularity Makes an Update on Grand Theft Auto 5's Cast Feel Inevitable
Franklin's Growing Empire Could Show Up Without Being Intrusive
After seeing his rise from a small-time Los Santos street gangster to a wealthy entrepreneur, Franklin's arc has made him a symbol of how the series has adapted with the times. There's no telling how much his multi-millionaire status has grown in the time since Franklin's last appearance in GTA Online, meaning that his corporate ventures could give him nationwide reach that make references impossible to avoid in GTA6. It would be surprising to see that he's managed to stay out of trouble during this interim, making him just as likely to appear in the next game's single-player as its online component.
Trevor and Michael Can Still Be Wildcards
It's relatively safe to assume that the other two Grand Theft Auto 5 protagonists have also done well with their cuts of the Union Depository Heist, far less is known about their current whereabouts. While Michael is almost certain to spend the rest of his days producing films, Trevor's mysterious abandonment of all his business in the Los Santos area leaves room for him to pop back up in Vice City. If the example of his interactions with Johnny Klebitz during his own debut are anything to go by, the next appearance of Trevor might even be his last.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- November 19, 2026
- ESRB
- Rating Pending - Likely Mature 17+
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.
Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.
- Engine
- Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE)
- Franchise
- Grand Theft Auto
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
