For gamers, this day has been almost a decade in the making and with the arrival of the highly anticipated GTA VI video game, it seems petrolheads can continue to enjoy the vast car culture that has seemingly always been part of the franchise.
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Set in Vice City as a virtual replica of what is very obviously Florida, the latest addition to the Rockstar Games portfolio has bandits performing their usual ammunition-fueled antics. But aside from guns, hillbillies and alligators, how does this link to the automotive world? The video game franchise has almost always included an aspect of car culture within, whether it be modification, decals or high-performance spin-offs of Porsches, Ferraris, Lambos or American Muscle.
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According to Strauss Zelnick – CEO of Rockstar’s holding company, the reason for this is that; “The world of GTA is a fictional world, so to bring real-life brands in, they really have to be iconic and they have to fit within that world.” Of course, licencing and manufacturer permission may factor into the justification behind this but he added: “It’s very much a creative decision driven by the team at Rockstar. It’s not a financial decision.”
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While inspiration may be drawn from reality, the latest trailer teaser continues to show some virtual interpretations of what we have in reality. Over and above some old-school American jalopies from the malaise era, there are also modern-day wares that mimic the forms and aesthetic of a Porsche 911 Carrera Cabrio, Ferrari Testarossa and Dodge Challenger – can you spot them all?
Additionally, the sixth instalment has embraced the entire automotive community, including the good, bad and ugly. In the current day, infamous reprobates dominate public roads with the likes of street takeovers and quad-bike invasions and the same has been imparted into the game from the short but action-packed glimpse.
While the GTA VI trailer has teased this new world of Vice City, gamers and customers will have to wait a little bit longer considering the arrival of the game is only slated for 2025.
