Rockstar Games' eagerly awaited new game, GTA 6, continues to create a buzz with details that do not escape the careful eyes of players even months before its release. Following the game's promotional trailers, an image shared on the official website brought up a possibility that had never been considered before for the GTA series: The game's huge open world could feature child characters for the first time.
Why Weren't Child NPCs Included in the GTA Universe?
The GTA series has deliberately not included interactable child characters in the open world environment. The most important reason behind this decision was the possibility of harming child characters in the game, considering the unlimited freedom given to players. This situation was seen as an extremely sensitive and controversial issue in terms of ethical values, and was meticulously avoided by the developers because it could cause serious problems in the age rating systems of the games. Rockstar Games had completely excluded child characters in the previous games of the series with this sensitivity.
The Small Figure in the “Grassrivers 02” Visual Sparked Curiosity
However, a recent image shared on the official GTA 6 website titled “Grassrivers 02” has sparked heated discussions about how this established rule could potentially change. The image in question features a character with a noticeably smaller build compared to other adult NPCs in the background. This apparent size difference has been interpreted by many GTA fans and game analysts as a sign that this figure could be a child character.
A Revolutionary Change for GTA?
If these claims are true, GTA 6 could mark a revolutionary change for the GTA universe. While previous games in the series have included some indirect references to children, such as school buses and pregnancy, there have never been child characters that players can physically interact with and who are tangible in the game world. Many other open-world game developers choose to implement similar restrictions in this regard due to similar ethical and rating concerns. For example, despite the fact that the critically acclaimed game Cyberpunk 2077 includes child characters, players are unable to harm them in any way.
Sensitivity Towards Child Characters in the Game World is High
The boundaries around the use of child characters in gaming are often quite clear. Projects like the recently announced inZoi and the highly anticipated Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 clearly show that child characters were removed or significantly restricted from games due to ethical concerns and potential player backlash during development. This shows how careful game developers are about this sensitive issue.
The image may be for promotional purposes only.
Of course, it should not be forgotten that this image shared for GTA 6 does not yet constitute definitive proof. It is also possible that this small figure is just a promotional detail or that the person in the image is actually just a physically short adult NPC. However, the idea that one of the giants of the industry like Rockstar Games could be a first in this field and include child characters in the GTA series has already increased the curiosity and excitement of millions of players. The official statements and new details to be made by Rockstar Games in the coming months about GTA 2026, which is expected to be released in May 6, will shed light on these intriguing claims. Gamers are eagerly waiting to see how this potential innovation will add a dimension to the GTA universe.
