GTA 6’s in-game romance revives debate over video game ‘cheating’

Grand Theft Auto 6’s central characters can build a romantic bond through activities such as dates and hand-holding, prompting debate over whether pursuing an in-game relationship could upset a real-life partner.

Rockstar has said players do not have to make Jason and Lucia a couple. But the game lets them develop their connection through activities outside the crime storyline, including shopping, visiting bars and restaurants, and working out. [1]

A YouGov poll of more than 4,000 British adults, conducted in September, found that about 6% would consider such behaviour cheating, while a further 19% would not be comfortable with it. Women were more likely than men to object, according to the poll. [1]

Alli Franco, a Texas-based gaming and anime creator, told the BBC she was “dismayed” by the debate. She compared having a crush on a fictional character to fancying a television star, arguing that it was further removed from cheating because no other person was involved. [1]

Some people responding to Franco’s video drew a distinction between playing out a fictional romance and letting it displace a real relationship. One commenter said it would be “a little odd” if a player cancelled plans with their partner or directed intimacy towards a character. [1]

The question may become more complicated as games evolve. Arienne Ferchaud, an associate professor at Florida State University who studies people’s connections with fictional characters, said games were getting better at mimicking social relationships. She said future AI-powered characters might remember encounters and respond to players over time, but would still create an illusion rather than a genuinely meaningful connection. [1]

For Franco, the distinction remains clear: “At the end of the day you can’t cheat with lines of code.” [1]