With Grand Theft Auto 6 poised to take over the world, I reached out to Jack Thompson and it did not go well
GTA is mainstream now, but the fiery activist who raged against violent videogames in the early 2000s has not softened.
In 2005, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas faced controversy due to a mod that enabled interactive sex, leading to its ESRB rating as Adults Only and a subsequent ban in Australia. The US FTC also criticized Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive for not disclosing the potential for nude female characters and a sex mini-game. Today, with GTA 6 set to release, the ESRB has assigned it an M rating, covering Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, and Drug Use.
The Entertainment Software Association notes that the average US gamer is 36 years old, having played for 18 years, and views games as no more extraordinary than a thrilling Miami Vice episode. Despite the societal changes, no surge in violent crime has been observed, which aligns with the decline in violent crime over the last two decades as gaming has become mainstream.
Former attorney Jack Thompson, known for his efforts to link violent video games to real-world violence, remains unconvinced by Florida's embrace of GTA marketing. He dismisses government promotion of commercial interests as fascism and dismisses my inquiries, even accusing me of drinking "the fascist Kool-Aid" and likening me to Joseph Goebbels.
Thompson's stance seems to be unwavering, despite the changing world and the apparent success of GTA 6.
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