Summary
Some fans believe they have spotted a child NPC in one ofGTA 6’s new screenshots. Following the disappointing news of the game’s delay to 2026, Rockstar tried to make it up to fans by releasing the long-awaited second trailer and a batch of new screenshots highlighting the stunning scenery ofGTA 6’s Leonida. But one of these images has reignited an old controversy.
GTA 6’s second trailer has sparked intense discussionwithin the community, especially after Rockstar confirmed it was captured in-game on a PS5. Fans are praising the footage for its stunningly lifelike visuals, hoping the upcoming open-world title will set a new benchmark for realism. In fact, some believeGTA 6might push realism so far that it could finally include one of the most controversial features the series has historically steered clear of.
According to some sharp-eyed fans,GTA 6might include minors as NPCs. The speculation stems from the new “Grassriver 02” screenshot, which shows a waterfront restaurant from a wide angle. When zoomed in, a child-like character can be seen on the right side, sitting at a table with two adult NPCs—likely suggesting they’re the parents.
GTA 6 May Feature Minors as Non-Playable Characters
While it may seem unlikely for amature-rated open-world gamelikeGrand Theft Autoto have minors, some fans are convinced that Rockstar may have finally found a way to include them. They argue there’s no reason for the developer to show a child in a random screenshot unless those NPC models exist in the game.
For those wondering, none of theinstallments in theGTAfranchisehave ever featured child NPCs, though a few minors have appeared in cutscenes from earlier titles. The closest the series came to including kids was inGTA 3, as the beta version reportedly featured school buses and street signs hinting at their presence. However, these elements were removed from the final release.
While adding kids to a game likeGTAenhances realism and makes the world feel more immersive, it also carries serious risks for the developer. Given the franchise’s freedom to engage in highly controversial criminal behavior and violence towards NPCs, the inclusion of minors could easily trigger backlash. Even non-violent, autonomy-driven games that have featured children have faced criticism. A recent example wasInZOIplayers kidnapping minors, prompting the developer to intervene. Considering all this, it seems unlikely thatGTA 6will include children unless Rockstar has found a way to implement them without sparking irreversible controversy.