A new era for the series is expected to begin withGrand Theft Auto 6’s highly anticipated 2025 release, given how long its predecessor has enjoyed success. One of the more subtle aspects that has contributed to the longevity of each game in the franchise that can be overlooked is the presence of outside references and easter eggs. With these often paying homage to the inspirations and settings associated with those titles, one nod to a popular television series would make natural sense forGrand Theft Auto 6.
There’s been everything from aghost easter egg inGrand Theft Auto 5to rumors of bigfoot being found inSan Andreas, but there’s also been a fair share of direct references to other media. Given the Florida inspiration ofGTA6’s Vice City, there’s a wealth of popular outings in the crime genre to draw from, but Showtime’sDextercould be one of the most well-known possible.
A Dexter Reference in Grand Theft Auto 6 Could Do Justice to Vice City’s Miami Basis
The Darkly Absurd Tones of GTA and Dexter Easily Complement One Another
With theGrand Theft Autoseries being no stranger to morally ambiguous content and controversy, it won’t be surprising to see elements of the next upcoming game reflect newer harsh realities through a humorous lens. In a setting that hasn’t appeared since theGTAtitle of its namesake featured a retro take onVice City inspired by films likeScarface, and it may now be set to return in a grittier, modern fashion. Of shows in recent memory that reflect a more morbid side of the city,Dexterhas a high volume of well-known moments that would lend themselves well to the ambivalent violence typical ofGTA.
It’s already been shown that the next incarnation of Vice City will feature boats, and this creates the opportunity for giving a nod to one of the iconic parts of Dexter Morgan’s disturbing body disposal techniques, for example. As seen in thepremiere ofDexterSeason 2, the titular character’s killings were previously discovered by scuba divers who found eighteen plastic-wrapped corpses he had dumped off the coast. A simple visual easter egg like this would be instantly recognizable inGTA6, but this reference could also potentially go as far as previous in-game mysteries.
The Potential for a Wider Dexter-Inspired Murder Mystery in Grand Theft Auto 6
Taking Previous Serial Killer Easter Eggs in GTA to the Next Level
With how notable among the community the bizarreInfinity Killer mystery inGrand Theft Auto5turnedout to be, leaning into this kind of intrigue even more substantially in the next game could help to add another layer to the setting beyond the main story. If new reports and multiple sightings build up a figure on par with the Bay Harbor Butcher as the game progresses, it could lead to a rewarding mix of fan service for viewers of the show while also building up an exaggerated sense of true crime realism.
Deeper Story Involvement is Flexible Depending on GTA6’s Tone
There’s an inherent darkness to the premise ofGrand Theft Auto 6protagonist Lucia’s tragic backstory, to begin with, so it may not feel out of place if the game’s narrative features elements of a serial killer investigation. Whether there’s a corrupt member of the police department in the vein ofGTA4or even a Dexter-inspired character involved directly with the story, Rockstar has the flexibility to leverage the extent of the reference with the heavier or lighter vibe the game settles on.
Grand Theft Auto 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.
