GTA 6's Relationship System Sparks Cheating Debate: Nearly 1 in 4 Adults Say In-Game Romance Is Unacceptable

GTA 6 is set to launch in November, and its story centers on the relationship between dual protagonists Jason and Lucia. The latest trailer teased intimate moments, including shower scenes, and previews reveal that players can make the couple kiss with a button press and walk around holding hands. Screenshots hint at beach dates and shopping trips, and Rockstar has confirmed that the relationship can flourish or fade based on how quickly you reply to texts on the in-game phone.

This Bonnie-and-Clyde-style romance is at the heart of Rockstar's upcoming title, and you can engage with it as much or as little as you like. But you might want to check with your real-life partner first.

In September, British polling firm YouGov asked 4,000 British adults whether they'd consider dating in a video game as cheating. About 6% said yes, while another 19% said they didn't consider it cheating but wouldn't be okay with it.

That's a surprisingly high number of people who view virtual romance as a form of betrayal. Women were notably more opposed than men: only 4% of men considered it cheating, compared to 7% of women. Among those who didn't call it cheating but still disapproved, 13% were men and 24% were women.

The BBC covered the poll with a headline asking, "Can you cheat on someone with a video game character?" The framing drew backlash from players.

"No, video game characters are not real, get a grip ffs!" said Stetson Spatula. Another X/Twitter user asked, "Can you get arrested for murdering someone on Call of Duty?"

Many responses pointed to established games like The Sims, which lets players live out alternative domestic lives where Sims marry, have children, and pursue careers while decorating their homes. The perceived hypocrisy is that players have been roleplaying relationships for years before GTA 6.

GTA 6's potential for "cheating" has come up before. In August, we reported on how a number of angry spouses on social media said they thought GTA 6's relationship mechanic was so in-depth that it amounted to cheating on your real-life partner and was worth breaking up over. On TikTok, for instance, several concerned people said they wouldn't let their partners play the game.

Rockstar has also made it clear that you don't have to engage with this aspect of GTA 6 if you don't want to. Jason and Lucia start the game wanting a relationship, but it's up to the player to actively pursue it. If you don't, they won't be as smitten with each other, but they'll still have each other's backs when it counts. If you do choose to make them a power couple, you'll likely get more out of the game.

"When you bring them together, it feels like you’re a steward of their relationship, and you feel protective of them as a unit," Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson told IGN. "But this is something we did not know when we started, and it really had to be something we felt our way through. But I will say that whether you’re getting in trouble, or you’re running from the cops, or getting in a car, or waiting for the other one — playing as them together feels very cool. It feels like you’re taking care of them, if that’s something you’re into."

Rockstar is ramping up marketing ahead of next month's release. Last week, real cars modified to look like GTA vehicles were spotted driving around Miami.