People often point to the MCU as to how the studio could construct such a hugely connected universe, while Rockstar Games has done the same with GTA.
In many ways, the GTA franchise represents the very best that the AAA games industry has to offer in terms of quality, scale and value. One of the franchise’s greatest achievements is to tell individual, independent stories, while also connecting them all.
This means that every game takes place in the same universe and that characters appear in multiple games. Depending on the timeline, characters are often younger or older than when they first appeared.
5 characters in GTA 5 who appeared in previous games in the franchise
5) Johnny Klebitz
In perhaps what has become one of the most iconic character introductions to a video game ever, GTA IV: The Lost and Damned’s Johnny Klebitz meets his rather unfortunate and brutal ending. While Johnny is in no way a straight arrow during the GTA IV expansion, Johnny really feels deranged during the events of Grand Theft Auto.
Johnny is just a shell of the man he used to be and finds himself at the mercy of his addictions. After getting into an argument with Trevor, his head is brutally pounded into the ground.
4) Michelle / Karen
One of Rockstar Games’ biggest evasions in GTA IV is the revelation that Michelle, whose real name is Karen, was indeed an undercover IAA agent. The revelation ends with Niko and Karen breaking up, and she was not seen for the rest of the match.
During the mission “By the Book” in GTA 5, however, she appears as the cop who interrogates Mr. K and threatens him with a flashlight. A cameo adds weight to a connected universe.
3) Patrick “Packie” McReary
Perhaps one of the best missions in GTA history, Grand Theft Auto IV’s “Three-Leaf Clover” laid the foundation for the Heist system in Grand Theft Auto V. One of the most congenial presence on the mission and the rest of the game is Packie McCreary.
At any event in GTA 5, he appears where the player encounters two men who stick into a drugstore. The player can then choose to bring them to safety. He will be available as Gunman for Heists in-game, which is neat.
2) Rocco Pelosi
Rocco Pelosi, who initially appeared in the franchise as one of GTA IV’s main villains, is a relentlessly obnoxious and despicable character. So when he is forgotten by Michael in GTA 5, it feels all the more satisfying.
He appeared in the game as a talent agent who tried to pry away Richard Solomon’s actor and director. Michael foils his plans with the aforementioned punching and the talent flies back to Richard.
1) Lazlow
Purely because of the number of appearances awarded, Lazlow has likely appeared several times in the franchise. At first he appeared only as a radio host, but Lazlow appears as a fictionalized version of himself in GTA 5. He is the presenter of the infamous reality TV show Fame or Shame.
His performance in the game was extremely excited as he played an extremely exaggerated version of himself. In addition to his performance, Lazlow had also been involved in GTA’s creative process GTA related to writing.
He would also work on Red Dead Redemption 2 as a writer and audio director.