GTA VI Trailer Clue: Are Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption Connected.
Rockstar Games has been renowned for creating incredibly detailed and immersive worlds with its Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption franchises. Fans have always wondered if the two behemoth series were somehow connected to one another. This intriguing theory is brought back to life by a fresh lead in the GTA VI trailer, courtesy of some observant players.
The Presidential Link: A Dollar Bill Find
So what's the big deal. It seems that Reddit user cph2001 was taking close examination of all the frames of the new GTA VI trailer – along with many of us. This keen eye noticed something strange on the banknotes being thrown around in one of the strip club scenes. The portraits on this in-game currency appear to have presidents named Thaddeus Waxman and Franklin Hardin.
The same presidential paintings can quite clearly be viewed on packs of cigarettes in Red Dead Redemption 2's universe. This could be the smoking gun (punned) to link these standalone worlds.
An Easter Egg, or Something More
Officially, Rockstar Games has said nothing directly regarding the potential correlation between their flagship titles. It's certainly possible that this is merely a quick nod, an "Easter egg," to their hit Western game. Red Dead Redemption 2, for its part, does have some representations of actual-world locations, just like GTA's Los Santos is a fictionalized version of Los Angeles, after all.
But some faster minds are quick to point out that Rockstar is not always strictly consistent with its fictional naming conventions. There have been some instances in earlier GTA games where real state names have been mentioned on in-game radio or dialogue, rather than their fictionalized counterparts. So, the likelihood of some shared historical link isn't entirely outside the realm of possibility.
The Wait for More Clues Continues
Until then, this banknote discovery is a tantalizing piece of a larger mosaic. We will not be able to mine for further potential connections until GTA VI finally arrives – which is scheduled for May 26, 2026, for Xbox Series and PlayStation 5 hardware – to see more potential connections. The PC release date, and when dataminers can finally put in the work, is a secret. For now, the theories will most certainly continue.
It's a great concept – could the gritty, crime-ridden streets of GTA and the unforgiving Red Dead Redemption frontiers share a hidden, common history. Only time, and maybe more diligent fans, will tell.
