How Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer shows diversity and inclusivity in video gaming has hit a high point
- ‘Lucia’, the first playable woman character in the notoriously violent and sexist Grand Theft Auto series, caps a wider trend towards inclusivity in gaming
- Studios are employing sensitivity readers to make sure content is respectful to different cultures, and are promoting recruitment from diverse backgrounds
The most notorious, violent and often sexist video game Grand Theft Auto is finally introducing a playable woman character into its testosterone-fuelled world, capping a wider trend towards more inclusivity in the gaming industry.
The pressure is coming from players demanding wider representation and from a new generation of game designers sensitive to the issue.
The result is “Lucia”, who featured in a trailer released on Tuesday for the Grand Theft Auto VI game that Rockstar Games will release in 2025.
Grand Theft Auto has often been a lightning rod for criticism but the wider industry has hardly been a beacon of light.
Major sexual-harassment scandals engulfed video gaming companies Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft in recent years.
And activists have long complained of a lack of diversity among staff at gaming companies, and often stereotyped depictions of minorities within games.
The industry, however, has listened and change is coming.