Time waits for no one – not even GTA 6. It's been almost 15 months since that first trailer broke across the internet like a burst dam, its contents soaking into the very marrow of Western pop culture and reflecting it back at us. The game's cinematic reveal seemed to have its finger on the pulse of everything 2023, from doomscrolling to twerking, showing off on social media, Instagram Lives, and even a surprise appearance from the viral Florida Joker. It felt oddly prescient. If Rockstar had been hard at work on this trailer for ages, how did it echo that moment in time so accurately?
But that was back in 2023. Just this morning I had to look up the trailer to rewatch it and remind myself what about it had us all feeling so seen by GTA 6 over a year ago. While the digital world hasn't changed that dramatically since December 2023, something about how current Rockstar is trying to be with its pop culture references has me concerned that GTA 6 might be DOA – dated on arrival.
