With GTA V Enhanced & Expanded, an updated version of GTA V for next-gen consoles, releasing soon, some groups are hoping to see certain changes in the game. Out Making Games, a UK-based organization for LGBT+ professionals in the gaming industry, is asking Rockstar Games to remove transphobic elements from their game.
In an open letter to Rockstar Games, Out Making Games expressed their enjoyment with Rockstar's various games over the year. However, the reason for the open letter stems from a Kotaku article hoping that GTA V Enhanced & Expanded will do away with the game's dated transphobic elements. The article cites examples such as the garish appearances of trans sex workers or the UPS-style company Post OP, with slogans like "your package is safe in our hands" and "no longer just mail." These "jokes" were dated in 2013, and have only continued to poorly age over time.
While GTA V allows for equal opportunity violence against almost any NPC wandering the streets of Los Santos, Out Making Games rejects that arguement. "Given the cultural impact GTA V has around the world, Rockstar has a social responsibility to your players (many of whom may be LGBTQ+), to your staff and to the world at large to not promote violence against trans and gender diverse people," the letter states. The letter also points out that 2020 was one of the most violent years for trans people worldwide, with over 350 trans and gender diverse people murdered, often inside their own homes. Out Making Games hopes that GTA V Enhanced & Expanded will be a good opportunity to correct the game's problems, and is willing to get into a discussion with Rockstar if they need help figuring out where to start.
GTA V Enhanced & Expanded will be releasing on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S sometime in March 2022. Meanwhile, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 will be losing access to GTA Online this December.