It’s 2026, and the echoes of that first GTA 6 trailer still hum in my brain. I remember the collective gasp, the holy moly moment when December 2023 made it real. Now, having lived with the game for a year since its fall 2025 release, I can't help but trace the DNA of my Vice City adventures back to a different, dustier world: the one Arthur Morgan rode through. Rockstar's last epic, Red Dead Redemption 2, wasn't just a game; it was a masterclass in immersion. And playing as Lucia, I feel its ghost in the machine, especially in how I document my own chaotic rise.
Back in 2018, Arthur's journal was my sanctuary. A quiet place for sketches of sunsets over Heartland Overflow and musings on a dying way of life. It was thoughtful, emotional—words you don't usually associate with Grand Theft Auto's brand of over-the-top, crass humor. But Rockstar are masters of their craft, and they've done something genius for GTA 6. They've taken that core idea—documenting your journey—and thrown it headfirst into the 21st-century dumpster fire of social media. Arthur sketched his regrets; Lucia and I film our crimes for clout. Talk about flipping the script!
The heart of this new system is the in-game app, ViceSee (or as we players call it, Vice-Cringe). It’s not just a menu; it’s the pulse of Leonida. Remember how the 2025 trailer was a barrage of outrageous, viral-ready moments? That wasn't just for show. That's the gameplay loop.
How My 'Journal' Works Now:
| Arthur Morgan's Journal (RDR2) | Lucia's ViceSee Feed (GTA 6) |
|---|---|
| Hand-drawn sketches of landscapes | Snapped pics/videos of easter eggs & crime scenes 📸 |
| Reflective written entries | Captions dripping with irony and faux-inspiration 💀 |
| Personal, private log | Public platform for building a rep & trolling NPCs 👑 |
| Tracks honor through actions | Tracks followers and engagement metrics 📈 |
Instead of quietly sketching an NPC, I'm pulling out my in-game phone to record a guy getting launched by a speeding car, adding a "Just another day in paradise 😎 #LeonidaLiving" caption, and hitting post. The magic—the real next-level immersion—isn't just in the posting. It's in the reaction.
Those "plenty of NPCs" Rockstar promised? They have opinions, and boy, do they let you know. The comment section on ViceSee is a wild ride:
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NPC Reactions:
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Chef's Kiss NPC: "OMG LUCIA UR MY IDOL!!! 🔥🔥"
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Karen NPC: "This is why our city is going to the dogs. Reported."
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Cryptobro NPC: "Disruptive energy! I see you! DM me for a life-changing opportunity."
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Philosopher NPC: "We live in a society..."
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Your actions directly affect your follower count and the tone of the comments. Pull off a heist with style? Your follower count explodes, and the comments are filled with fire emojis. Cause too much chaotic, un-targeted mayhem? You might go viral, but the comments will be full of facepalms and "This is why we can't have nice things." It’s a reputation system for the digital age, and it makes the city feel terrifyingly alive.
This mechanic is woven right into the story of Lucia and Jason's rise from petty crime to infamy. Our ascent to notoriety isn't just measured in dollars or wanted stars anymore; it's measured in followers and viral moments. One mission had me stealing a prized sports car. The classic GTA move is to just drive off. But the GTA 6 move? I parked it on the roof of a rival's nightclub, did a silly dance on the hood, tagged the location, and watched the likes roll in. The mission reward was good, but the social clout was chef's kiss. It’s social satire so sharp it could draw blood.
Looking back, theories that RDR2's Guarma was a tech test for GTA 6 feel more plausible than ever. But the real testing ground was Arthur's journal. Rockstar took that kernel of "player reflection" and asked, "What if reflection was performative? What if it was for an audience?" In a game all about excess and spectacle, it’s a perfect fit.
A year on, this system remains one of GTA 6's most talked-about features. When pulled off well, it’s immersive as hell. Sometimes, it can feel overwhelming—a constant pressure to perform. But that’s the point, isn't it? It captures the anxiety of modern life perfectly. So, while I sometimes miss the quiet solitude of Arthur's sketches, I can't deny the thrill of crafting the perfect, chaotic post for my millions of ViceSee followers. Rockstar didn't just make a new GTA; they made a mirror for our digital selves, and honestly? It's a bit too real. 🤳💥