On May 6, Rockstar Games unveiled the second trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, arguably the most anticipated game of the next year, or perhaps even the entire decade. This analysis dives into all the details and easter eggs hidden within what was the week`s main gaming video.
While the first Grand Theft Auto VI trailer primarily focused on Vice City and its vibrant atmosphere, leaving the plot and main characters mostly to speculation based on rumors and leaks, the second trailer aimed to rectify this. It shifted the focus squarely onto the protagonists and even provided an official synopsis for the game.
The synopsis provided states: Jason and Lucia always knew they played by someone else`s rules. But when a get-rich-quick scheme went awry, they found themselves on the dark side of America`s sunniest spot, embroiled in a state-wide criminal conspiracy across Leonida — and getting out requires them to work together.
The rumors were confirmed: the game features two main protagonists, named Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. The idea that they might be siblings seems less likely now, especially considering scenes showing them embracing.
Jason is a common English name, originating from the ancient Greek hero Iason, leader of the Argonauts who sought the Golden Fleece. Duval is a surname of French origin meaning “from the valley”. It`s quite common, found in figures like Robert Duvall or William DuVall of Alice in Chains. Interestingly, another William Duval was the first governor of Florida, the real-world inspiration for the state of Leonida.
It`s hard to say how long Jason has been in Vice City. Florida was a Spanish colony, while nearby Louisiana was French territory, so his ancestors might have settled on the peninsula long ago.
He lives by the water in a rather dilapidated stilt house and, based on an early dialogue, doesn`t pay rent. Jason drives a Vapid car, which appears to be based on the Ford Ranchero. It`s curious he drives this model rather than a Picador, based on the El Camino.
The trailer`s opening shots show Jason as a young, athletic white male. He seems to attract women easily and is seen lifting weights on the beach. His tan suggests he`s either a native of Vice City or has lived there for a considerable time. He earns a living by collecting debts.
The most intriguing details of his appearance are his tattoos. On his left shoulder, he has a skull pierced by a bayonet, wearing a beret, over a parachute. It`s also labeled “Marauder” and the letters “BCO” (speculation on meaning varies). This might indicate service in a US Army airborne division or its in-game equivalent. His second tattoo is a bird pierced by an arrow, in an indigenous or Polynesian style. This could reference the fable where a bird is killed by an arrow feathered with its own plumage, often interpreted as a moral about being the cause of one`s own suffering.
An official description reveals Jason is indeed not local to Vice City but started out in the Keys, the equivalent of the Florida Keys archipelago south of the peninsula. He grew up among hustlers and criminals. To escape his past and start fresh, he joined the military. Fate then led him to the Keys, where he now works for local drug runners, doing what he knows best. Meeting Lucia has been a turning point, though its ultimate effect remains to be seen.
Lucia is a common name derived from the Latin word “lux,” meaning “light.” Caminos is a surname of Spanish origin, meaning “path” or “road,” and is not very common.
As mentioned, Florida (and Leonida) was formerly a Spanish colony, making it quite probable that Lucia, who appears to be of Latina heritage, is local to Vice City.
No tattoos or prominent scars are visible on Lucia. Like Jason, she is young and appears to be in good physical shape. Furthermore, she seems proficient in some form of martial arts. The trailer shows her delivering a high kick to an opponent`s face during what looks like either an underground fight or a training session, suggesting trained combat skills beyond typical street brawling.
According to an official description, Lucia`s father taught her to fight as soon as she could stand. Since then, her life has been a continuous struggle. Trying to help her family, she ended up in prison but managed to get out through sheer luck. Lucia learned her lesson and now intends to do everything smarter. Most of all, she wants to secure a comfortable life, something her mother dreamed of while in Liberty City. Instead of just fantasizing, she has decided to take matters into her own hands.
Jason is initially shown living a relatively quiet life—fixing his roof, lifting weights, potentially robbing convenience stores. He then awaits the release of his girlfriend, Lucia, from prison. The reason for her incarceration isn`t explicitly stated, but it`s clear she isn`t entirely free. The trailer features a shot of her wearing an ankle monitor and later a reflective vest, implying she may be on house arrest or mandatory community service. The vest resembles those worn by inmates on cleanup duty under police supervision and features the letters “LDC,” likely standing for Leonida Department of Corrections, analogous to the Florida Department of Corrections.
However, Lucia eventually gets rid of the ankle monitor, as it`s absent in subsequent scenes. This period of supervised, law-abiding life for Jason and Lucia appears brief. Information from the official website confirms that Lucia devises a new, ambitious criminal plan almost immediately after her release. Even just based on the trailer, it`s evident that quiet living is not her forte.
The trailer features numerous details and potential easter eggs:
The opening scene introduces Jason and his house, with his Vapid car parked outside. Jason`s line about “fixing leaks” could be a meta-reference to the massive leak of GTA VI development materials.
Bryan Heder is shown, a small-time drug runner who employs Jason as a collector and provides him the house in exchange for his work. Bryan is seen urging Jason to handle debt collection. Bryan`s vehicle is also a Vapid pickup, likely based on the Ford Ranger. A woman in the background greeting Jason might be Lori, Bryan`s wife, or another character. Her car has distinctive cat paw stickers, hinting at potential vehicle customization options for players. The background music here is “Child Support” by the Haitian group Zenglen.
A scene depicts Jason collecting debts from tenants. A matchbox visible on the counter has the number 420 written on it, an unexplained detail. A phone number is also visible on the cash register, which doesn`t match known characters from previous games and could potentially be a cheat code number, similar to how codes were entered in GTA IV (though GTA V used a different system).
A pickup truck is seen carrying “rednecks,” a common sight in Florida (and Leonida). Stickers on the truck read “MyWays” and “Unbuckled.” The background song is “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” by Wang Chung.
The trailer shows Jason weightlifting, suggesting a potential return of character stat progression or training gyms similar to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. His lift is estimated around 120 kg based on the plates shown.
Cats are confirmed to appear in GTA VI, as a brief shot features one.
A scene shows a police arrest. A mural on the wall features Haitian themes, including the country`s coat of arms, a map, and inscriptions in Haitian Creole commemorating two men, likely deceased. Murals like this are commonly found in Miami`s Little Haiti neighborhood.
Jason, Lucia, and a third character named Raul Bautista are shown robbing the Sinfrontera National Bank. The bank`s name might be a reference to the band Sin-Frontera. The background music throughout this heist and until the end of the trailer is “Hot Together” by The Pointer Sisters.
Bryan`s boat workshop is featured. Given his profession, this location could be tied to drug running missions, potentially involving planes, reminiscent of Trevor`s activities in GTA V.
Lucia is possibly shown in her corrections vest performing cleanup duty.
A sign indicates “Hurricane Roxie was so strong,” made from boards that were once part of a house. No hurricane named Roxie has hit the US (Roxana was in Mexico), but it references the reality of hurricanes in Florida, especially Miami, a high-risk zone regularly impacted by storms.
A bar scene features advertisements for fictional beer brands from previous GTA games: Patriot and Pißwasser.
The characters are seen heading to the Nine 1 Nine club, which was advertised in the first trailer and appears to be a parody of Miami`s E11EVEN club.
A character appearing to be a rapper, possibly Roxy or Baylux from the group Real Dimez, is featured.
Behind one character, the Vice City elevated metro system is visible, mirroring Miami`s Metrorail. An underground system is impractical in this region due to natural geography.
The trailer hints at a more developed melee combat system. It`s possible Jason and Lucia will have different fighting styles (strength vs. technique), potentially allowing players to learn new moves, similar to San Andreas.
A humorous billboard reads: “Fun Has No Limits.”
Another rapper, Dre`kuan Priest, is shown, suggesting significant focus on Vice City`s hip-hop scene. Priest wears a jersey for the fictional Manatees football team, styled in the colors of the Miami Dolphins.
One of the heists shown appears to be inspired by scenes from the “Fast and Furious” movies.
More than one such heist might be featured.
A specific shot focuses on a red car, highlighting two potential features: vehicle tuning seems to be returning, and players might be able to lean out of cars. Additionally, NPCs are seen photographing rare cars, suggesting their behavior towards vehicles might be more dynamic.
A strip club scene is shown. Whether it will feature more interactive or dynamic striptease than GTA V or is simply a cutscene remains to be seen.
The Ammu-Nation stores are back, potentially with a more rustic aesthetic. A PlayBox 5 console is also visible, a parody of PlayStation.
It`s speculated that Phil Cassidy, a character from GTA: Vice City, might own the Ammu-Nation store shown.
Alongside Lucia in her vest, repair work is visible in a house, potentially hinting at the ability to upgrade and customize player housing over time.
Jason`s friend named Cal is introduced. More details on him and other secondary characters in GTA VI have been discussed based on trailer analysis.