Image: Rockstar Games/Kotaku
Recently released PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions Grand Theft Auto V Seems to be missing something that many consider transphobic. These elements have been criticized by some journalists and players, although Rockstar Games has not publicly commented on what prompted the decision to make these changes.
The removal of this content was first spotted by Reddit user JayProspero, who noticed a slight change in one of the in-game offices. In older versions of the game, a row of packaged action figures was shown, including a figure with “interchangeable genitals,” dressed in pink, with flamboyant makeup and a large phallus-like bulge. The action figure is no longer present in the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S ports, and of course it could be interpreted as a shenanigans about trans women.
Also from the latest version of Grand Theft Auto V Is an NPC marked as “Drag Queen” in the game’s Director Mode and marked as “Transvestite” in the game files on PC. These characters also wear flashy makeup, bulges, and can sometimes be heard telling the player or other NPCs that they are using “hormones”. Again, these characters are clearly a joke at the expense of trans women.
Both the action figure and the NPC “Drag Queen” have now disappeared from the game. The NPC’s models do remain in the game’s files, but are no longer generated and appear to have their voice lines cut off, as documented Grand Theft Auto Modders and data miners spider vice and GTA Forum Admin Curtie Cloud. (SpiderVice has assisted small house and past me Data mining validation and clipping content stories in the past. )
last year, small house Own Carolyn Petit wrote about Grand Theft Auto V’Bad depiction of trans women, references to now-removed NPCs and a plethora of transphobic ads throughout the game world that still exist in the game in 2022. The story was then directly quoted by the LGBTQ+ gaming advocacy group Out Making in an open letter to Rockstar about the game. In the letter, the group called on the company to “remove the phobia element from the game” and said Rockstar had an opportunity to “positively impact a new generation of players.” Grand Theft Auto V through these fresh ports.
Here’s what Petit had to say about trans NPCs last year:
Usually, people respond to such concerns by pointing out that you can target and kill anyone in Grand Theft Auto V. They say the game is “equal opportunity” because it gives you the freedom to wreak havoc in Los Santos. You can target white people in overalls or people doing yoga if you want.
But there is currently no “equal opportunity” for transgender people in society. Unlike other random NPCs, the way Rockstar designed GTA 5’s trans characters actively caters to the hateful stereotypes of many transphobic players. The transgender sex workers you can meet, with their flashy makeup and prominent penis bulges, seem absurd and distasteful to players who bring their preexisting transphobia into the game. It’s as if they were specifically designed so some players can enjoy hurting and killing them because they’re transgender.
Rockstar has not formally discussed why the content was removed, or other details, if any, may have changed. small house Contacted Rockstar Games regarding the removed NPCs and action figures, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
In a brief blog post yesterday, Out Making Games responded to the discovery of the removal of NPCs and action figures, saying the organization was “excited” about the tweaks.
“Grand Theft Auto V is a wildly popular game with millions of players around the world,” wrote Out Making Games. “This change will have a huge impact on the way trans people are viewed by these players. Thank you to everyone at Rockstar for prioritizing this issue – we are game developers ourselves and understand that even small changes like this require concerted time and effort. “
