Grand Theft Auto is one of the biggest franchises in gaming history. It's constantly changing the landscape of how we, as gamers, expect our open world experiences to be. With free roaming/driving capabilities, interactive NPCs, and more weapons than we could ever imagine, it has created a cult-like following throughout the gaming community and has made for some rather interesting theories along the way.
From the somewhat reasonable theories of the Epsilon Program and their ties to a certain popular religious group to the thought provoking relationship of Red Dead’s John Marston and our three protagonists of GTA V, the list goes on and on as fans of series continue to find some sliver of meaning to latch onto, trying to make sense of what is widely regarded as the best chaotic sandbox game to hit home gaming consoles. This is especially prevalent since there are so many storyline plot holes and unanswered questions that have us as gamers up at night. So today we give some light to those theories listing 15 Grand Theft Auto fan theories so crazy, they might be true.
15 It's A Governmental Conspiracy
A Reddit user by the name of Zpopee has theorized that the events of GTA take place within an alternate timeline where the "Business Plot of 1933" succeeded. In this plot, the top one percenters overthrew the president (FDR at the time), enacting a new consumer-driven society. This would lead to businesses being able to monopolize and basically create a world no longer run by the government, but by the wealthy. This would explain why it seems GTA is a series driven by material possessions. At every turn, people within the universe are always being bombarded with advertisements telling them to buy things with multiple subliminal messages that they're “too dumb to realize.” It’s a dog eat dog world and the rich run everything. So many similarities could potentially be drawn out of that last line, but for sake of staying sane, let’s keep it gaming.
14 What Does It All Mean?!
It’s hard to say if the “Mount Chiliad Mystery” was a theory as much as an elaborate troll done by a developer who just wanted a few kicks. Nevertheless, it remains as one of the biggest unsolved happenings in Grand Theft Auto history.
The iconic hieroglyph is displayed on the top of the mountain, and shows random items and a diagram that when supposedly laid over the map reveals the whereabouts of said items. Now, that does seem reasonable. I mean, aside from the time of day requirements, the location of the sun, and of course who could forget the old 100% complete thing? It seems like a logical bonus task left to conquer after the main story has been completed. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look likely as years have passed, conspiracy videos have surfaced and still there's no leads in cracking this code. Maybe it never will be cracked, and maybe it was never supposed to be. We can only hope that one day one dedicated GTA gamer will uncover the path to the holy grail.
13 Everyone Is Out To Get You
Now whether this entry is actually a theory or a case of paranoia is still debatable. But if you’ve ever actually played a Grand Theft Auto game I’m sure you can relate to the consistent anxiety that may have given this theory its legs. Of course, I’m referring to pedestrians and their hidden agenda to see your misfortune at all costs. Often you will find yourself driving along, minding your own business, and out of nowhere being struck by a random NPC. This also extends to walking down the street where just so much as a wrong stare will get you a beat down from one or more. These aggressions are heavily documented online, with videos and memes showing these crazy NPCs found everywhere. And almost always, it's uncalled for.
12 The Devil's Playground
With so much crime, greed and mayhem engulfing the citizens in Los Santos, it’s hard to believe that this type of behavior could be normal. How is this the way people honestly carry out their everyday lives? It’s disheartening, to say the least and doesn’t seem like the ideal environment for people to continue dwelling unless they had no choice.
A new theory among fans has them giving up all hope and saying, “maybe we’re all in hell.” Now, this is pretty far-fetched (although a GTA version of Bat Outta Hell might be neat), but would help in connecting the dots between the corrupt system of the series, the zero consequences of death (respawning outside of a hospital, weapons still intact, like nothing happened) and the supernatural happenings around us.
11 The Little Mermaid
If you remember Claude from Grand Theft Auto III you would probably remember a cool guy with an alarming disposition to shoot people in the face. And though he may be the grandfather of the current day 3D version of the series, to some his silent demeanor did make him a bit of a boring character to play.
A theory behind this lack of vocal expression is that he was shot (well, shot in a specific way, to be exact). During the opening scene of Grand Theft Auto III, we see his then-girlfriend Catalina betray Claude and shoot him point blank. However, we’re never shown where. It’s possible that the bullet could have pierced his throat, cutting off his ability to speak. It's an intriguing theory that could use some digging into.
10 But Where's Tom Cruise?
“KIFFLOM!”
Quite possibly one of the most unusual encounters players have been met with in Grand Theft Auto is that of the Epsilon group. They're a group promising higher being abilities and clarity of thinking for wondering individuals looking for a higher purpose. Of course, that higher purpose comes at a residual price (I mean, the website doesn’t maintain itself, you know). A theory by fans of the series suggests that the Epsilon Program is a spoof of real life Scientology. It promises a fulfilled life to desperate rich people as a way to scam a buck. It’s witty and given the obvious comparisons, I’d say this is less of a theory and more of an unproven fact, and part of why we love GTA.
9 Moving At A Snail-Like Pace
One thing I’m sure many fans of the series have admittedly done at least once is trying to obey the laws of the road. They practice stopping at a red light and driving at a sensible pace. There really is no real reason and honestly no real reward, but it’s fun to pass the time.
However, as there seems to be no reward for driving safe, there doesn’t seem to be any consequence for driving recklessly either. No matter how fast you travel or how many red lights you pass, you’ll notice that the “shoot first, ask questions later” police force of GTA never seems to mind.
A theory behind this is that maybe we’re driving slower than we think. Now, I’m sure that’s confusing, especially after maxing out the speed in your Lambo you just purchased. But the reasoning lies in the time in-game. With hours turned to minutes and minutes to seconds, speed is much slower in relation to real life. Makes sense if you ask me.
8 Alone In The Middle Of The Ocean
If you’ve ever taken time away from the mindless carnage to view the map of a GTA game, you may notice how every game seems to be set upon an island in the middle of the ocean. Now while it could be explained simply as developers trying to keep things simple, avoiding invisible walls and giving gamers a clear-cut guide to where the limitations of travel reside, that might not be the case. Some people think the reasoning is slightly more metaphorical.
The theory states the body of water surrounding the map is used as a way to show the disconnection and isolation from the outside world. It helps to explain the harsh attitudes of the game that brings about the lawlessness that fans of the series recognize. The scarce opportunity and resources that inevitably drive our protagonists to the edge where crime ends up being their only option. However, the theoretical rabbit hole doesn't stop there...
7 They're Trolling Us
To add to the metaphorical isolation of Grand Theft Auto games, some also suggest this may have been Rockstar’s way of poking fun at America and its seemingly self-centered values.
This means that the games would expose how typical western ideologies tend to resemble a feeling of close-mindedness. With a supposed obsession with celebrities, social media and fame, and an oblivious attitude towards real world issues, it honestly goes hand in hand with the “middle of the ocean” theory. The one where America physically may not be a small isolated entity. But mentality, it might as well be.
Now this theory may ruffle some feathers, as values are one thing America takes to heart. And though there may be some parallels, it must be remembered that perspective is subjective, so who are we to be upset? America, that’s who!
6 Where Does GTA Online Fit In?
One peculiar fan theory that does raise a lot of questions, is the idea of where your custom GTA Online character’s place is within the Grand Theft Auto universe as a whole? Now, we could just say that the two games more than likely live on their own exclusive planes. But some gamers think otherwise. It’s grown as a popular idea among fans of the series that your GTA Online character actually was a part of the main storyline, but died or was imprisoned before the events involving Michael, Franklin, and Trevor. Now, this does have some holes, as most theories do. This is due to the fact that there is no dialogue about your player’s interactions with people within the world, aside from a one-off tease by Lester during a heist set up. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to think about and makes you wonder, what if?
5 You Have More Influence Than You Think
What if everything you did (mayhem, larceny, assassinations, drug dealing, etc) in Grand Theft Auto Online actually meant more outside of the chaotic sandbox of Los Santos? What if the events that took place following the “Pacific Standard Job” were the blueprint for what’s to come in future iterations of the series? Well, a certain Reddit user by the name of WhomTheHeckCares has pondered just that.
His theory suggests that following the events of GTA Online, your created character is finally subdued and sent to prison. This would then be the starting point of what we would see in GTA VI, where you then may be broken out and launched back into the criminal underground. It's an interesting idea and would be a change of pace, having a created character as the lead protagonist with a story reclaiming a city that was once yours.
4 It's A Multi-Generational Thing
A fan theory that most within the GTA community deem quite feasible, is the “3 Generations” theory. This idea notes how the 3 protagonists in Grand Theft Auto V may represent more than just what’s on the surface. It could be unlocking the underlying connection between past games in the series.
The psychopathic Trevor representing the chaotic and rather directionless mayhem of GTA 1 and 2. Franklin is the young kid just looking for a way out of the hood and a way to the top–a similar theme displayed in GTA: San Andreas and Vice City. Michael then rounds out the crew showing players the struggle between a life of crime and family, focusing heavily on story, mirroring the challenges of Niko Belic from GTA IV.
It honestly would be pretty unique if Rockstar chose to recognize this potentially unintentional link as it shows just how much foresight the company has.
3 Lights, Camera, Action
Ever play out a GTA mission and upon approaching the “shootout scene” notice just how perfectly things seemed to be laid out? A rocket launcher here, a machine gun there. It seems almost too convenient to be granted just about everything you will need in order to escape impending death or mow down your enemies. Almost like things were intricately planned out, like an action scene of a movie. From the cars, pedestrians and the even the main protagonist(s), everything has a purpose. Real life commutes to work don’t consist of random car chases with guns blazing out the window, and everyday people don’t die one moment then are up walking down the street the next. It’s all an act, and we are the lucky directors.
2 What Exactly Is The Rockstar Universe?
With popular Rockstar games like L.A. Noire, Red Dead Revolver and Red Dead Redemption, there has been some rumbling throughout the community regarding their connection within the Rockstarverse, especially in regards to Grand Theft Auto. It’s a widely talked about theory similar to other big time gaming publishers like Ubisoft, having a potential intertwining story arch between games under their umbrella. Fans have theorized that given the timing each game was set in (Red Dead in the 1880s, L.A. Noire in 1947), this could be a possibility. It would also explain the similar art style and overall attitudes that are displayed in each games’ protagonist.
1 GTA Is The "Be All, End All" Of Rockstar
In a slight flip from the last entry surrounding a Rockstar intertwined universe, a Redditor named CitizenWolfie has made claim that every game is in fact just a fictional tale within the universe of Grand Theft Auto. Giving GTA a page-master-like status as the “be all, end all.”
This theory was given life due to a book found in Franklin’s house titled “Red Dead.” Other titles such as Max Payne and Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis are also speculated as being just a movie and a sports broadcast respectively. It’s an eye-opening idea for sure and makes you wonder how the community would react if it, in fact, was the case.