The gameplay trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the most anticipated entertainment releases of the decade, landed at the end of August. For those unfamiliar with it, the satirical video game is famous for allowing players to drive around a fictional US city committing crime and shooting people. But as well as misdemeanours, it has also given them the chance to engage in a form of in-game politics.

The previous instalment of Grand Theft Auto, GTA V, was a huge hit, grossing US$1 billion (£750 million) faster than any other game in history. But it remains controversial – both politicians and academics have examined the franchise’ effects amid concerns it may be harmful to young people.

Despite a petition and an eventual ban in Australia however, even negative UK reviews of the fifth instalment, released in 2013, still found space to praise the game for how enjoyable it could be.

When playing online, gamers around the world can connect to play out their own stories in the fictional city of Los Santos. In these emergent worlds, players use proximity voice chat (meaning they can “hear” other people only when they are close to them in the game) to embody characters and interact. Collectively, they can create an ongoing story that might involve protest or politics.

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