Earlier this week, after some pre-trailer jitters, Netflix and Rockstar Games collaborated on an extended look at the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI. On top of a close examination of many of the new features, life simulation elements and visual fidelity, the ad reel also gave the biggest payload yet of what your crime sprees will sound like as well, with over a dozen new tracks added to the list of in-game music.
20 years ago, a virtually rendered Phil Collins took to the stage in the 1984-set Vice City Stories to perform “In the Air Tonight,” which famously closed out the final episode of Miami Vice. Collins’ haunting harmonies will echo through Vice City once again. The latest preview confirmed the inclusion of “Against All Odds,” Collins’ 1984 single that accompanied the neo noir of the same name, which followed the doomed romance between washed up football player Jeff Bridges and nightclub mistress Rachel Ward. Homage of the Genesis singer’s first Grand Theft Auto cameo was rather up front. Does the implications of his encore spell trouble for love-locked bandits Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos?
Collins joins a growing soundtrack of yacht rock camp, stadium anthems and contemporary R&B. Other confirmed tracks include Captain & Tennille’s “But I Think It’s a Dream,” Cliff Richard’s “Devil Woman,” Sexyy Red’s “Pound Town,” Def Leppard’s “Love Bites,” Depeche Mode’s “People Are People,” Birdman and Lil Wayne’s “Pop Bottles” and Kodak Black’s “Skrilla.” Some of the more curious additions are indie era darling !!!’s “Off The Grid” and new romantics Prefab Sprout’s “Cars and Girls.”
Speaking to Kotaku, podcaster and Prefab Sprout expert Jesse Hawken had this advice to aspiring Vice City bandits. “When you get a 5 star wanted level you will understand that some things hurt more, much more, than cars and girls,” says Hawken. “Prefab Sprout is the perfect soundtrack for cruising through Vice City, I hope there’s a whole Sprout radio station.”
Since Vice City, the selection of licensed music and in-game radio stations has grown exponentially, with artists and celebrities appearing as in-game DJs. The laser focus on all things Grand Theft Auto will inevitably create new playlists and fans for the grab bag of music, as we saw around the previous trailer’s love for Tom Petty and the Pointer Sisters.