Rockstar Games says Grand Theft Auto 6 will avoid directly parodying Donald Trump’s rise to power and the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the series’ reputation for sharp satire. The studio says this is intended to keep the game from feeling dated after its long development cycle, while still allowing it to mock broader, more enduring aspects of human behaviour and culture.

Rockstar North head Rob Nelson said specific political issues, memes and contemporary slang can quickly become awkwardly outdated, so the team is choosing targets with more lasting relevance. The game may still allude indirectly to themes such as conspiracy theories, and its trailers have included apparent references to viral online moments; GTA 6 is due on 19 November for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.