Summary
- Grand Theft Auto 6's protagonists have the pressure of living up to the legacy of previous GTA protagonists while also proving their worth as strong leads for the next generation of the franchise.
- The two protagonists of GTA 6 are speculated to be a Bonnie and Clyde-style duo of robbers, and if leaked information is correct, they will make history as the first female protagonist in the series outside of GTA Online.
- GTA 6 will face the challenge of standing out among other games with multiple protagonists, as this approach has become more common in the gaming industry. It's important for the game to deliver on its protagonists' dynamic and compete with other titles in this aspect.
Grand Theft Auto 6's pair of protagonists are going to be under a lot of pressure for several reasons. It will be hard enough for them to follow up on the legacy that was left by previous Grand Theft Auto protagonists alone. However, they will have several extra hurdles to clear in order to stake their claim as strong leads for the next generation of the franchise. There is a good chance for Grand Theft Auto 6 to surpass the series' previous installments. In order to do so, the game's leads need to prove that they can carry the game.
Ever since the first rumors about Grand Theft Auto 6's protagonists came out, it has been easy to speculate about the two. The main theory about the two floating around is that they will be a Bonnie and Clyde-styled duo of robbers. But of course, fans won't know for sure until Rockstar comes out and reveals the two properly. If what info has been leaked is correct, they are already bound to make history for the series in one way, since the duo includes the first female protagonist in Grand Theft Auto history outside of GTA Online. If nothing else, their story should be interesting.
GTA 6 Will be Compared to Other Games with Multiple Protagonists
Grand Theft Auto 5 isn't the series' first experiment with multiple protagonists. Grand Theft Auto 5's protagonist trio paved the way for GTA 6 to star its protagonist duo. In fact, one could also argue that Grand Theft Auto 4 approached the concept first, with the main story and DLC campaigns all having different playable characters. It's not a surprise that Rockstar would use multiple protagonists once more. However, GTA 6 will have to face a challenge that was not shared by the previous protagonists. Grand Theft Auto 6 is coming out at a time when multiple protagonists are much more commonplace in the gaming industry.
Players taking control of dual protagonists is a rising trend in games, even before Grand Theft Auto 6's trailer announcement hit the news. A few examples that are likely to still be fresh in the minds of many include:
- Peter and Miles in Spider-Man 2
- Kratos and Atreus in God of War Ragnarok
- Alan and Saga in Alan Wake 2
- Ellie and Abby in The Last of Us: Part 2
This approach has been used to extend games by telling different stories with each playable character or exploring them from different sides. It's a mechanic that has done well in many games, and it has potential in GTA 6.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is coming out at a time when multiple protagonists are much more commonplace in the gaming industry.
The relationship between the protagonists of Grand Theft Auto 6 will have a major impact. It seems likely that, much like Peter and Miles in Spider-Man 2, the two of them will be partners with an equal share of the plot, only as criminals instead of superheroes. The two will have to step their game up compared to previous GTA protagonists in order to succeed, though. Dual protagonists have been done before, and players have seen the concept done well. Grand Theft Auto 6 has a lot of competition with this concept, making it important that they manage to deliver in the game itself.
Grand Theft Auto 6's two protagonists aren't the first of their kind, and they have several standards to live up to. In addition to following up on GTA 5's protagonists, it will also inevitably be compared to other games that have featured multiple leads in their own right. Considering other upcoming titles like Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth with its combination of Ichiban and Kiryu, that list of games will only get longer. Grand Theft Auto 6 doesn't just need to be a good GTA title, it needs to put its protagonists' dynamic to good use.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- November 19, 2026
- ESRB
- Rating Pending - Likely Mature 17+
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Engine
- Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE)
- Prequel(s)
- Grand Theft Auto 5
- Franchise
- Grand Theft Auto
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- November 19, 2026
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.
