“Ain’t the American Dream Grand”: Satirical Play in Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V

Rockstar Games is a video game publisher famous for its immersive and highly detailed action-adventure titles set in America, thanks to two main franchises, Red Dead Redemption Grand Theft Auto. This article explores how employs the location play elements of Auto V (2013), title that has now generated over $6 billion worldwide sales, critique American culture, politics, lifestyle. Presented by co-founder Dan Houser as “the endpoint dream,” provides crime-laden journey through simulated Southern California landscape (“San Andreas”). The awash with social political commentary. Of interest here how, specific mechanics such “satirical play,” targets concept Dream,” exposes themes excess consumption, fake-ness, decay Californian broader experience. Exposition these is, however, compromised Rockstar’s primary commitment deliver mainstream gameplay experience, resulting mixed messages moments ludonarrative dissonance.