Grand Theft Auto is n’t just a secret plan series ; it ’s been a huge cultural sensation since it commence in 1997 . Rokcstar ’s GTA is always famous for pushing limit and making headlines , often for controversial reasons . But why is it so controversial , and how does it keep getting attention ? Here are 10 GTA plot controversies you require to know .
Table of Contents
1. The Infamous “Hot Coffee” Mod
If you were a fan of GTA in 2004 , you would belike remember the“Hot Coffee”scandal . This obscure minigame in GTA : San Andreas allowed players to contain the principal fiber , CJ , during sexual encounters with his in - plot girlfriends . While the content was not accessible through normal gameplay , hackers notice it buried in the game ’s code .
The fallout from this scandal was massive . The ESRB shift the game ’s military rank from Mature to grownup Only , forcing Rockstar to echo and reissue the game without the hidden contentedness . Take - Two confront a more than $ 20 million stratum - action at law lawsuit , with affect client who buy the game before its re - tell on being entitled to $ 35 each . Interestingly , this code ‘ incidentally ’ appeared again in the 2021 Definitive Edition passing of San Andreas .
2. Jack Thompson’s Legal Crusade
AttorneyJack Thompsonperhaps became the most notorious critic of the GTA series , filing multiple lawsuits against Rockstar and Take - Two . His legal campaign began in 2003 , when he essay to comprise a teen murderer , claiming the boy ’s many hours playing GTA III had allow him obsessed with kill . Thompson also tried to symbolise Devin Moore , who killed three constabulary officers and claim GTA biz made him do it . The Florida Bar eventually disbarred Thompson in 2007 for actus reus .
If you play GTA IV back then , you might have realized the Final Interview mission , where Niko is tell to bolt down a attorney . Some think the attorney is based on Jack Thompson . The character even say Thompson ’s quote:“Guns do n’t pour down people , video games do . ”Thompson threatened to censor the game but did n’t postdate through .
3. Lindsay Lohan’s Failed Lawsuit
In GTA V , there ’s a fictitious character named Lacey Jonas , an actress who lives with an eating disorderliness . Lindsay Lohan thought the theatrical role looked too much like her , especially because of a promo image usher Jonas in a two-piece making a repose sign , like to one of Lohan ’s own photos .
She sued Rockstar , but the court fire the case because Rockstar did n’t really apply her name , portrayal , or picture . Another TV wizard , Karen Gravano from “ Mob Wives , ” also tried to sue for a similar reason , but her case was dismissed too .
4. Deliberate Controversial Marketing
You might be surprised to learn that the very first GTA game was deliberately marketed to cause controversy . The developers rent British publicist Max Clifford , who in reality planted stories in British magazine , highlighting the game ’s violent depicted object , including hit - and - runs and assaults .
This scheme worked well . Even before the first GTA game came out , the British parliament held earreach about video game force . This gave GTA a lot of free attention and even help the game betray over three million copies . From then on , using controversy to get noticed became a key part of the series ’ success .
5. Graphic Torture Mission in GTA V
GTA V pushed boundaries further with its ill-famed agony mission , “ By the Book . ” Unlike most vehemence in the series , which is optional , this mission forces you to torture a character to advance the story . You must apply tools like car batteries , pliers for pulling tooth , and waterboarding proficiency in in writing item .
Many critic saw this as crossing a argumentation . Keith Best from Freedom from Torture say Rockstar had“crossed a note by in effect forcing people to take on the part of a torturer . ”This ask participation in torment made many histrion uncomfortable and sparked renewed debate about violence in video game .
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6. Racial Controversy in Vice City
routine six in the list of GTA game contestation come in from GTA : Vice City . This serial publication face significant repercussion for a mission where player had to start a gang warfare between Cuban and Haitian radical . In other versions of the game , players were even separate to kill members of one grouping . America ’s Haitian community of interests organized far-flung protest against the game . In reception , Rockstar tally to take away reference to Haitians and supplant them with the more generic full term “ gangsters ” in late versions of the game .
7. Male Nudity in “The Lost and Damned”
The Grand Theft Auto IV expansion , call “ The Lost and Damned , ” caused arguing by feature expressed male head-on nudity . While the series had long admit sexual content , this was the first time it had testify full male nudity , causing a stir among gambling publication .
Common Sense Media called the expansion“even more controversial than its predecessors due to the male nudity,”highlighting how even in a series know for fight limits , this cognitive content bear out . The conniption even featured Tom Stubbs stretching his groin toward the camera , which many felt was done on purpose to shock people .
8. Daz Dillinger’s Music Copyright Claims
Another creative person who makes GTA game controversies is rapper Daz Dillinger . He claimed Rockstar used his songs “ C - Walk ” and “ Nothin’ But the Cavi Hit ” in GTA V after herejected their offer of approximately $ 4,271for the right field , which he considered“offensively grim . ”According to Dillinger , when he decline , Rockstar used the song anyway .
Dillinger get off Rockstar a cease and desist letter , demand they recall and destroy all unsold copies of the game ( approximately 15 million at that time ) or pay him what he deal honest compensation . Rockstar never issued a public response and did not recall the secret plan .
9. The New Hyde Park Crime Spree
In 2008 , agroup of teenagers allegedly influenced by GTAwent on what constabulary called“a spree of fury , mischief , and damage”in New York . They first attacked and robbed a valet de chambre outside a supermarket , rap out his teeth . Then they broke into a shed , stole artillery including wrecking bar , and used them to impairment vehicles . Six teenager were arrested and charged with looting , say they get the idea from characters in Grand Theft Auto . This incident gave critic more cause to argue that violent video game might chair to real - world violence .
10. Drug Dealing in Chinatown Wars
GTA : Chinatown Wars , released in 2009 , included a elaborated drug - look at minigame . While past plot had interchangeable content , this one went further . Darren Gold of the British non-profit-making Drugsline knock the game , saying : “ Anything using drug - dealing as entertainment is institutionalise out the wrong message . glamorisation does n’t help our employment trying to educate kids of the dangers of substance abuse . ”
Despite ( or perhaps because of ) these GTA secret plan controversies , the serial proceed to discover sale phonograph recording with each new sacking . The franchise has sold over one C of million of copies worldwide , wee-wee it one of the most successful gambling franchises of all sentence . Whether you love the series or hate it , there ’s no denying that Grand Theft Auto has forever commute how we speak about game and their impact on society . It will be interesting to see what controversies may egress when GTA 6 is released in Fall 2025 .