Why a Female/Diverse Protagonist for GTA 6 is a Good Thing

Diversity is a good thing. The world is diverse, and the art we produce must reflect that. Grand theft Auto has long been a cis-gendered, hetero-normative, patriarchal focused series. To have a protagonist in one of the biggest IPs in the world break from these norms would show the progress the world has made in making sure everyone is seen as important and valued.

Grand Theft Auto games are narrative driven experiences about individuals involving themselves in crime, though part of the appeal is the freedom to commit acts of violence in the Free-Roam portion of the game. It may sound inappropriate, and violence seems like the wrong thing to support. However, there are many instances where violence is legitimate. The next Grand Theft Auto can be the medium to show how violence can be appropriated to better society.

Not only that, by diversifying the playable characters, we can show that people of all shapes, sizes, and genders can participate in this violence. For too long, the main characters of these games have been toxic males, though the games accurately portray the patriarchy's selfish and violent tendencies. The truth is that anybody can be violent, anyone can be a successful criminal. To say only men can be great criminals gives them too much credit. Women and LBTQIA+ individuals, are capable of the same kind of criminal activity that men are capable of, they are probably even better at it. Look at how little women and LGBTQIA+ people are in prison. It goes to show how great at crime they're at, they barely get caught, and if they do, they deservedly get lighter sentences.

So GTA 6 needs diverse main characters, it would only be fair.