Grand Theft Auto is one of the single most recognizable franchises in pop culture. The series has received a total of fifteen games, including seven mainline entries. The most recent mainline entry was Grand Theft Auto V, which was released way back in 2013 and rereleased over the years. While fans continue to hold their breath on the recently announced Grand Theft Auto VI release, V has held steady as one of the most popular games in history. Xbox seems to have realized that, as they made an announcement regarding the game today.
Xbox GamePass Announces Change To Grand Theft Auto V Status
It is not an exaggeration to say that GTA V is a genre-breaking entry. In the first three days of its release alone, it grossed over $1 billion in sales, with over $800 million of that coming on launch day. The game has changed pop culture and redefined what video games can do in sales. The gameplay is actually quite strong, and the addition of Grand Theft Auto Online continues to keep the game relevant almost 12 years later.
Grand Theft Auto V does not come without its controversies. Although it reached critical acclaim and was even nominated for and received countless Game of the Year awards, the plotline that depicts violence, theft, and womanization has been heavily scrutinized. Critics have long claimed that the series glorifies violent and inappropriate behaviors for children and is often named as a reason behind children committing violent acts. There is no evidence to support this claim, however, and it has not impacted the game’s sales.
With Grand Theft Auto V being so highly praised, Xbox has decided to jump back on the bandwagon in anticipation of the GTA VI release. GTA V has been on and off the Xbox Game Pass catalog throughout its conception. Today, Xbox announced that the highly-acclaimed game will return to Game Pass, due to be available on April 15th. Players who have played the game in the past or want to experience it for the first time can access it for free with a Game Pass subscription.
Final Thoughts
There is no question that the Grand Theft Auto franchise has left a huge mark on Pop Culture today. Love it or hate it, the game gets people talking. In the end, video games are meant to be an art, and not everyone will understand the art. However, with the series’ popularity, it seems plenty see the value in playing the game, even if the depicted behaviors are unhealthy in real life. Xbox knows this and has chosen to draw people in through GTA V’s Game Pass re-release, and fans should be excited to have one more way to play ahead of the next entry to this legendary series.
