[GameSpot] - GTA 5 Remasters Cut Transphobic Content

[343iBot]

Rockstar Games has removed transphobic content from its Grand Theft Auto 5 current-gen versions, including PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

One Reddit user, JayProspero, took to the GTA Online subreddit after discovering that the developer had replaced the Captain Spacetoy Interstellar action figure from the in-game arcade (via ArsTechnica). The post, which featured a screenshot comparison between the PS4 and PS5 versions, shows that the original action figure wore a pink leotard of sorts, and had "interchangeable genitalia" on the packaging. Now, the current-gen version shows the figure wearing a new outfit, with the message on the front now reading "posable vomit direction" instead.

In new-gen GTAV/GTAO, Rockstar appear to have disabled the trans caricatures or “drag queens” from spawning outside Cockatoos. This could be following a plea from OutMakingGames last year. I hope this provides comfort to anyone who felt these NPCs depicted harmful stereotypes ‍⚧️

— Kirsty Cloud (@kirstycloud) April 8, 2022

Additionally, Kirsty Cloud, an administrator for GTA fan site GTANet, also pointed out on Twitter that Rockstar has removed trans caricatures that were labelled as "drag queens" in the game from their spawning spot outside of Cockatoos. According to Cloud, "This could be following a plea from OutMakingGames last year," referencing a group of LGBTQ+ games professionals that requested the removal of the offensive GTA 5 content in an open letter to Rockstar.

However, the models still exist in Director Mode, although the NPCs' dialogue options have been removed. "Presumably this means protagonist dialogue lines to these NPCs about using hormones etc are therefore unused now too," Cloud added.

OutMakingGames has responded to the changes, saying in a new post, "Grand Theft Auto V is a wildly popular game with millions of players worldwide and this change can have a huge impact on the way that those players see trans people.

"Thank you to everyone at Rockstar who prioritized this issue - we ourselves are game developers and understand that even small changes like this take coordinated time and effort."

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