The MCU is often shown on how the studio could build such a massive connected universe, while Rockstar Games did the same with GTA.
The GTA franchise, in many ways, is the best thing the AAA gaming industry can offer in terms of quality, scale and value. One of the franchise’s greatest accomplishments was telling individual, independent stories while being able to connect them all.
That is, each game takes place in the same universe, and the characters appear in several games. Depending on the timeline, the 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
Perhaps in what has become one of the most iconic character presentations in a video game ever, Johnny Klebitz from GTA IV: The Lost and Damned meets his rather unhappy and brutal end. Although he is not a straight arrow in any way during the GTA IV expansion, Johnny is really on track during the Grand Theft Auto events.
Johnny is just a shell of the man he used to be and he finds himself at the mercy of his addictions. After entering into an altercation with Trevor, the character has his head brutally stamped on the ground.
4) Michelle / Karen
One of the biggest deviations from Rockstar Games in GTA IV is the revelation that Michelle, whose real name is Karen, was indeed an IAA undercover agent. The revelation ends with Niko and Karen breaking up, and she was not seen for the rest of the game.
However, during the “By the Book” mission in GTA 5, she appears as the agent 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 foundations of the Heist system in Grand Theft Auto V. One of the most enjoyable presences he had during the mission and the rest of the game is Packie McCreary.
During a random event in GTA 5, he appears where the player meets two men who are setting up a drug store. The player can then choose to drive them safely. He will become available as a gunman for the Heists in the game, which is neat.
2) Rocco Pelosi
Initially appearing in the franchise as one of the main villains of GTA IV, Rocco Pelosi is an incessantly annoying and contemptuous character. So when he is forgotten by Michael’s hand in GTA 5, he feels all the more satisfying.
He appeared in the game as a talent agent trying to remove Richard Solomon’s actor and director. Michael thwarts his plans with the fists mentioned above and takes the talent back to Richard.
1) Lazlow
Simply by the number of credited appearances, Lazlow has probably appeared countless times throughout the franchise. After initially appearing only as a radio host, Lazlow appears as a fictional version of him in GTA 5. He hosts the infamous reality show Fame or Shame.
His appearance in the game was extremely crushed, because he played an extremely exaggerated version of it. In addition to his performance, Lazlow was also involved in GTA’s creative process in terms of writing.
He will also continue to work on Red Dead Redemption 2 as an audio writer and director.