GTA 5’s Characters Returning in a Grand Theft Auto 6 DLC Would Be a Double-Edged Sword

Bringing back Michael, Franklin, and Trevor in a Grand Theft Auto 6 DLC could feel like a long-overdue reunion for millions of fans. The trio defined an era, doing their fair share to cement GTA 5 as one of the most innovative and commercially successful open-world games in history. The character-switching mechanic, the unforgettable heists, and the sheer chemistry between the three made them unforgettable.

So when Ned Luke, Shawn Fonteno, and Steven Ogg said that they’d be up for a “final score” recently, it’s clear there’s a chance to tie a bow on a decade of storytelling. From a DLC perspective, their return could inject GTA 6 with instant global hype, built-in emotional stakes, and a rare kind of multi-generational continuity few franchises ever manage to pull off. But there’s a risk attached, this being that they would instantly dominate the discussion around the game and steal the thunder of newer, younger characters in the franchise.

grand-theft-auto-6-5-vice-city-artwork-cover-lucia

Grand Theft Auto 6 Returning Character Wish List

While it’s expected to bring its own new cast of characters, Grand Theft Auto 6 would also benefit from featuring certain tasteful callbacks.

Star Power vs. Plot Limitations

The potential lobbying call to Rockstar fans for a “final score” came up at a recent comic con during a Q&A with the actors, and it’s a powerful concept. It suggests closure, payoff, even redemption from the actors, but also implies finality, something Rockstar may be hesitant to offer when GTA Online remains a cash cow powered by limitless player agency. Once a true epilogue for Michael, Franklin, and Trevor is written, the franchise can’t go back. It’s an exciting idea, but one that may close more doors than it opens.

There’s also the tension between legacy and innovation. GTA 6 is already confirmed to return to Vice City, a locale rich with its own history, tone, and political identity. Its protagonists have reportedly been built around modern issues, such as crime dynamics across gender lines, economic desperation, and even cryptocurrency-driven crime. Dropping in three aging criminals from Los Santos, characters whose worldviews were forged in a pre-2016 satirical sandbox, risks tonal dissonance. GTA 5‘s trio thrived in a world of exaggerated Americana, recession, ego, and ultraviolence-as-therapy, but GTA 6 appears to be going more grounded, at least in tone.

Fan Demand Collides With Developer Vision

It’s easy to say, “Just make them side characters in GTA 6,” but that suggestion underestimates how magnetic they are. Trevor doesn’t do subtle, Michael commands emotional attention, and Franklin’s progression still resonates across demographics. Even if they appear briefly, their legacy would recolor everything, and once they’re in the room, the room would be about them. Rockstar has always thrived when it resists audience expectations rather than indulging them. Giving players exactly what they want, without evolving the formula, would arguably be a rare misstep for the studio.

The Better Alternative Would Be as Ghosts in GTA 6’s System

There is a smarter way to acknowledge these icons, not as actual NPCs, but as background detail. For instance, there could be mission strands that reference the aftermath of their GTA 5‘s heists, the corporations they infiltrated, or even surviving factions tied to Trevor’s chaos. Maybe Franklin’s real estate empire owns parts of Vice City, or perhaps Michael’s films have shaped popular culture in-game. Something along the lines of this will keep their legacy alive while allowing new characters to thrive.

Alternatively, Rockstar could build a bridge via intergenerational storytelling, and a child of one of the trio could enter the scene with their own motivations. It’s riskier, but truer to what GTA has always been: a reflection of change, power, and identity through time. Bringing back GTA 5‘s protagonists in GTA 6 in a DLC would make headlines, but it would be at the cost of the next storyline in the franchise. If Rockstar wants to evolve GTA into a series that doesn’t cannibalize its past, it must be ruthless about protecting the future.