The changes weren't subtle enough to escape the notice of GTA's famously observant fanbase.
If there's one word that you can use to describe Grand Theft Auto fans, it would be "observant". So when Rockstar Games apparently changed the appearance of a character between the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 and the second, you'd best bet that everyone took notice .
Not long after Rockstar dropped the second GTA 6 trailer, social media was filled with comparison screenshots of one particular NPC that appeared in both videos. In one of the official screenshots of the HD Universe's version of Vice City, Rockstar changed the appearance of one of the NPCs from the first trailer.
As you can see in the comparison screenshot below (credits to u/No-Establishment7222 on Reddit), the individual in the white shirt, who sports the same jewelries and white tank top, looks slightly different, as is the individual in the same shot.
Many fans speculate that this could be because one of the individuals, a TikToker with the username zoeepoppyy, uploaded a video claiming that Rockstar used his likeness. Zoeepoppyy then demanded money from Rockstar, saying " GTA. I need my money, man,".
Considering the uncanny resemblance, Rockstar could very well changed the character's appearance to avoid a potential lawsuit. Coincidentally, the "Florida Joker" NPC from the first GTA 6 trailer also demanded payment from Rockstar and he was no longer included in the second trailer after dropping his plans of suing Rockstar.
Does this mean that Rockstar caved? We can't say for sure. Rockstar has created parodies and in-game versions of real people before, so this wouldn't be the first time Rockstar has openly copied someone else's likeness and used them in a GTA title.
Previously, Rockstar was sued by Lindsey Lohan for allegedly basing a Grand Theft Auto 5 character off her likeness. The 38-year-old actress ultimately lost that legal battle, so it's highly unlikely that Rockstar changed the NPC's appearance to avoid a lawsuit.
What probably happened here is that this is just the natural progression of the game's graphics and visual assets. Keep in mind that the first trailer was released back in December 2023, and work continued tirelessly on the game since.
Based from the improved graphics that we've seen so far, the characters and locations went through a glow up, or so to speak. If you compare what Jason and Lucia looked like in the original leaks from September 2022 to the first trailer and the latest trailer, it's evident that the changes are just a form of extra polishing.
With that said, it'll be interesting to see what the final outcome of the characters and locations we've seen in the GTA 6 trailers so far will be.
Certain NPCs from the first trailer, like Stefanie and the Florida Joker, didn't appear in the second trailer, so we can look forward to them sporting a more refined appearance by the time the game is released.
GTA 6 is currently scheduled for a May 26, 2026 release on the Xbox Series S/X and the PlayStation 5.
