Whilst of course there are positives to GTA like its non-linear approach and open explorability along with a great variety of NPCs, unfortunately that variety is not reflected in the female representation. Any female characters are limited to side-line roles wherein they are passive accessories to the male main characters. Female relatives are annoying and bothersome, whilst female NPCs often occupy hypersexualised positions like strippers or hookers.
When this is compared with the flawed yet well developed main and playable characters of Micheal, Trevor, and Franklin, the difference in how the game makers have treated the representation of gender is clear. Whilst mass-murderers are able to experience character development, women are sidelined and imprisoned within stereotypes that have harmed and debilitated them for years.
...when the impact of this style of feminine representation is analysed, yeah - it is that deep.
Now many of the fans would argue that not everything is about gender, that these were games from the 2000s and 2010s, that it’s not that deep, but actually when the impact of this style of feminine representation is analysed, yeah - it is that deep. The GTA fan base, despite it being a game marketed and supposedly aimed at adults, is mostly made up of teenagers, and teenage boys at that. Being constantly exposed to such an unrealistic representation of women is highly damaging especially at such a young age as it will only build an expectation and view of women as sexualised airheads that exist to accessorise male desire.
...games like this that pander to a hyper-masculine gaze need to change with the times...
Of course GTA is not exactly a moral compass and nor should we judge it as such, but for god's sake catch up. The gaming industry is evolving and slowly inclusivity is improving, but games like this that pander to a hyper-masculine gaze need to change with the times if they are to avoid perpetuating the negative stereotype of the gaming community. The prevalence of such damaging stereotypes in a game which does have fantastic world building among many other positives really highlights the systemic issue of gender representation in the gaming world. And the fact that this has become such a big selling point for the GTA franchise itself further symbolises how, regardless of progress made, sex will always sell.
Whilst it does appear that Rockstar Games are trying to change with the times as they are introducing their first female protagonist in GTA 6, the question remains whether or not they will truly be able to divorce themselves from the over-sexualisation of women that has contributed to the success of their games so far. With the GTA 6 release date on the horizon at last, we will just have to wait and see whether women will be liberated in the GTA universe or not.