Rockstar created a parody of its current state in GTA V

[MetroFloaty]

Something particularly struck me while playing GTA V. 

On the radio, there are various ads for videogames such as Righteous Slaughter, where the outro says "rated PG for pretty much the same as the last game". Very ironic, considering Rockstar has released FOUR iterations of GTA V including E&E. 
There are also the ads for DigiFarm and the DigiFarm spin-offs, ridiculing the artificial tedium of microtransaction-ridden online games and the frivolous customization options that don't really matter, like having a harem of fox prostitutes and being able to enlargen your digital penis. 
Just listen and tell me it doesn't sound like Rockstar taking the piss out of itself.

 

There's also Jimmy, a videogame addict who does almost nothing but sit in his room, smoke weed and play videogames while idolizing gangsta culture and pretending to be hood: an archetype which Rockstar surely goes out of its way to mock while simultaneously trying to imprint it onto a big part of GTA Online's playerbase (impressionable tweens).
GTA Online is designed to be as tedious and grindy as possible so players will fork over money, encouraging people to stay indoors and spend time playing, all while making a mockery out of GTA's themes one update after the other. 

GTA Online became exactly what Rockstar used to make fun of, striving to turn its players into an archetype that Rockstar ridiculed. 
It almost hinders my enjoyment of the satire in the franchise knowing the publishers and marketers are guilty of the exact things the game satirizes, but I suppose you should separate the art from the artist.

Edited September 22, 2021 by MetroFloaty

[CynicalMexican]

I find the Call of Duty parody more ironic these days given that R* seemingly put less effort with GTA Online.

 

I understand that's not the reality of the situation, but jeez it's hard to shake off.

[sabitsuki]

You're def not the first to draw that comparison

 

That said this kinda reminds me of the latest Boys promo from Amazon lmao

 

 

Edited September 22, 2021 by sabitsuki