Rockstar Games has never been afraid to explore the less glamorous side of American society. Considering this, it is safe to say that some of the most memorable stories ever created by the studio have revolved around the protagonists trying to build a better life. However, as it often happens in real life as well, the characters quickly discover that the world is definitely not interested in helping them, especially in Grand Theft Auto. As the popular joke goes, what was supposed to be easy peasy lemon squeezy turned out to be difficult, difficult lemon difficult.
Either way, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a great example of an iconic story that uses this approach, as it takes players back to 1899. As the Wild West is slowly disappearing, the Van der Linde gang is struggling to preserve its way of life. Grand Theft Auto 6 is now preparing to show Jason and Lucia, who are also trying to create a better future for themselves. And even though the two games take place in completely different historical periods, both of their stories explore how the American Dream changes over the years, along with the disappointment that comes with chasing it.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Showed What Happens When the American Dream Dies
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Image via Rockstar Games -
Image via Rockstar Games -
via Rockstar Games
Once you start playing Red Dead Redemption 2, it becomes obvious pretty quickly that freedom is everything for Dutch van der Linde and his gang. They don’t want to have to answer to the authorities for their actions or conform to societal norms, which slowly becomes impossible as the America they have grown to know is slowly disappearing. With a new era approaching, there’s just no more room for people who don’t want to follow the rules.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
So, after a robbery goes wrong and the gang is forced to flee, it’s easy to notice just how much pressure the federals are actually putting on the group. Of course, this quickly creates issues between the gang members as well. It is quite tragic to witness this situation as the gang’s entire way of life revolves around an ideal that simply no longer exists. So what they’re trying to achieve is basically impossible. They seem to be chasing after a romanticized version of freedom that is just no longer accessible in the historical era in which the story takes place. Considering all of this, it’s safe to say that Grand Theft Auto 6 seems to be taking this same idea and applying it to the modern world.
GTA 6’s American Dream Might Be Much Smaller, but No Easier to Achieve
When most people talk about the American Dream, they keep thinking about huge houses, throwing money around like it’s paper, and driving the fastest cars available on the market. Sure, this has always been a nice dream, and to be fair, it may have been a possible outcome at some point. Maybe one hundred years ago. However, in this day and age, it’s just borderline ridiculous to even think about such things. Not in this economy, as they say. And it seems like Grand Theft Auto 6 is definitely aware of this situation.
Yes, James is determined to build a better life for himself, but apparently this does not consist of being a billionaire and owning a yacht. According to Rockstar Games, Jason just wants an easier life. We also have Lucia, who is fresh out of prison and is determined to get the good life her mother dreamed of back in Liberty City. So, as it turns out, the giant American Dream might have shrunk considerably over the last few years. Rockstar’s Senior Vice President of Narrative, Rupert Humphries, spoke about this recently, discussing how the American Dream might have become a lot more modest lately. Instead of huge wealth, most people simply want to own a house and be free of debt—maybe have enough money to buy a car too, if you’re lucky.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is confirmed to launch on November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
If this is the idea that Rockstar is actually aiming to expand on, it would definitely be equally interesting and uncomfortable to see how ordinary financial stability has become the new luxurious lifestyle. In any case, it seems like we’re looking at Dutch’s situation all over again, but this time in the modern world. In other words, achieving this new dream might be just as realistic as Dutch getting to live by his own rules in the rapidly modernizing America.
GTA 6 Could Make Its Setting Part of the American Dream’s Biggest Contradiction
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Image via Rockstar Games -
Image via Rockstar Games -
Image via Rockstar Games
There is probably no better place to explore the modern American contradiction than Vice City. After all, it takes place in a fictional state inspired by Florida, as its glamorous lifestyle and general wealth of the citizens could provide a pretty clear contrast to the reality experienced by people like Jason and Lucia. We know that Leonida will be exactly this type of place because Humphries has already described Miami and parts of Florida as places where wealth and ambition exist together in perfect harmony.
Rockstar has confirmed that Jason previously served in the Army before moving to the Leonida Keys.
This is also exactly where Grand Theft Auto 6 will have an opportunity to distinguish itself from Grand Theft Auto 5, which had a very cynical approach to how obsessed American people are with the idea of being successful. However, instead of making fun of rich people or their ridiculous lifestyle, the new GTA title will have the opportunity to examine some important social contradictions and modern norms. Generally, if Rockstar uses Leonida correctly, the new release could quickly turn into one of the most notable commentaries on the modern American Dream.
GTA 6 Could Become Red Dead Redemption 2’s Greatest Thematic Rival
Many people would agree that one of the most memorable features of Red Dead Redemption 2 is the way Arthur Morgan’s personal traumas and struggles connect to his relationship with the Van der Linde gang. With his history, it is no surprise that he feels at home with a bunch of criminals. After all, this is the only form of family he has. However, as the story progresses, and he starts questioning the beliefs that have kept the group together for so long, his loyalty quickly becomes a major issue. And this makes sense because no person in their right mind would feel comfortable acting against his own moral compass. This entire narrative is most probably what makes the story feel so personal and authentic.
Now, Grand Theft Auto 6 has the opportunity to approach the same problem through a different lens. According to Rockstar, Jason and Lucia will find themselves caught in a conspiracy after a supposedly easy job fails, which will force them to rely on each other. However, this time, the studio will focus on the characters’ loyalty towards one another instead of toward an entire community or a criminal group. And if GTA 6 manages to make the protagonists’ personal struggles a convincing reflection of modern American reality, then Red Dead Redemption 2 would get a pretty powerful rival.
GTA 6 Could Explore the American Dream Through Crime Rather Than Freedom
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Image by Rockstar Games -
Image via: Rockstar Games -
Last, but not least, it’s pretty obvious that the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2 does not consider its criminal lifestyle to be an issue. On the contrary, Dutch actually wants to live a criminal life and be free from societal norms. Yes, it’s true that robbing people and generally involving yourself in criminal activity is not the best way to achieve freedom, but what matters is that this is the only way that Dutch knows how to preserve his independence.
According to the studio, Lucia too knows only one way to achieve a good life, and it is to take matters into her own hands. Although this sounds kind of broad, it is also an opportunity for Rockstar to explore crime not necessarily as an act of rebellion, but as more of a desperate attempt to achieve the new American Dream that seems so impossible to achieve through conventional means.
When the American Dream Becomes an Endless Pursuit
This could also open an interesting discussion among fans, especially when it comes to how much sympathy Jason and Lucia can expect to get. Most people would agree that committing crimes out of necessity and doing the same just because you don’t want to follow rules are two completely different premises. Obviously, both approaches are immoral by all established standards, but Rockstar has never really been interested in making its main characters the perfect role models.
It will also be quite interesting to see how much will actually be enough for Jason and Lucia. Most people tend to have the unpleasant tendency to always want more than what they have, which is probably just human nature anyway. Red Dead Redemption 2 explores this idea through Dutch, who constantly insists that the gang needs more money before it can actually escape, but no matter how much they make, the promised ending never comes. Of course, there is just no way to tell whether Jason and Lucia will manage to avoid this trap, but it would be interesting to see whether the new, modest American Dream could eventually turn into something bigger as well.
- Released
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November 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Rating Pending – Likely Mature 17+
