GTA 6: Can you cheat on someone with a video game character?

Rockstar's upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 is poised to be a major entertainment launch. The game's central feature is the relationship between its two main characters, Jason and Lucia, who are not required to become a full-on romantic couple. However, their bond can grow through various activities like shopping, dining, and working out together.

The game allows players to hold hands, respond quickly to each other's texts, and spend time around each other, which could lead to some players questioning whether their real-life partners would be upset if they developed an investment in this fictional relationship.

A YouGov poll conducted in September surveyed over 4,000 British adults and found that about 6% would consider it cheating, while 19% would not be okay with it. Women were more likely than men to disapprove of the behavior. Alli Franco, a 30-year-old Texan with a significant following on TikTok, expressed dismay at the debate unfolding online.

She argued that if a partner is insecure about a fictional character, there needs to be reflection. It was compared to having a crush on a TV star, but even further removed from cheating.

Video games have historically allowed players to build relationships with non-player characters (NPCs), ranging from marriage in Harvest Moon to complex storylines in Final Fantasy VII and role-playing games like Baldur's Gate II. The Sims let gamers flirt, date, marry, and have children with computer-controlled characters. However, these interactions were scripted, based on rules and storylines written by developers.

GTA 6 seems to offer more dynamic and open-ended interactions, allowing players to shape the relationship between Jason and Lucia through a wider range of choices. As games become more sophisticated, the line between virtual and real relationships blurs. The next leap forward may come from artificial intelligence, with Nvidia, Ubisoft, and other tech companies experimenting with generative AI systems that allow players to have more natural conversations with NPCs.

These AI characters could remember past encounters, react to player actions, and build relationships that evolve over time, making the experience more immersive.

While this technology could make games feel more realistic, it also raises questions about the boundaries of virtual relationships. Some players already see AI chatbots that allow them to talk to their favorite anime characters, and they believe AI will integrate more into games, making experiences even more realistic. However, Alli Franco maintains that no matter how realistic the technology becomes, it remains just a game, and one should not "cheat" with lines of code.