The Federal Investigation Bureau, also known as FIB, is a fictional government agency appearing in the Grand Theft Auto franchise. A satirical version of the real-world FBI or Federal Bureau of Investigation1, the FIB was introduced in Grand Theft Auto IV and has appeared in multiple GTA games since, playing a major role in the storyline of Grand Theft Auto V.

Prior to GTA IV, Rockstar Games depicted an unchanged FBI in GTA games.

Overview / Description

The FIB is a federal law enforcement agency with a mandate for internal intelligence, criminal investigation, domestic surveillance, and counter-terrorism. The agency is portrayed as corrupt and morally ambiguous; according to Lester Crest, the FIB has a history of framing innocent taxi drivers for terrorism, torturing civil rights campaigners, and ruining "the best bits of the internet".

In Grand Theft Auto IV and its episodes, FIB agents appear at a four-star wanted level to assist the LCPD, arriving in FIB Buffalo sedans. They are equipped with body armor and are expert drivers, often performing drive-bys. In Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, they are dispatched at a four-star wanted level, driving black FIB Ranchers and wielding Micro SMGs.

In Grand Theft Auto V, the FIB is a prominent antagonistic faction alongside Merryweather Security. They no longer appear in regular wanted level pursuits, being replaced by NOOSE TRU units, but feature heavily in storyline missions. The agency appears to have several divisions, including a tactical unit based on the real-life FBI SWAT, which is seen defending the FIB Headquarters and conducting raids.

The FIB has a number of known employees and associates:
Employees:

  • Agent Jones: Works in Liberty City and attempts to recruit Johnny Klebitz as an informant.
  • Steve Haines: A corrupt Special Agent in Los Santos and Dave Norton's superior. He is killed by Trevor Philips.
  • Dave Norton: An agent who fakes Michael De Santa's death to advance his own career.
  • Andreas Sanchez: Steve Haines' right-hand man, later killed by Haines.
  • Agent Rivera: An undercover agent involved in a pedophile bust ring.
  • Gary Lane: The official spokesman for the FIB.
  • Jodi Marshall: A former agent in charge of Strategic Intelligence, now on the FIB's kill list.

Associates:

  • Michael De Santa: A retired bank robber who works with the FIB as part of a deal with Dave Norton.
  • Trevor Philips: Michael's partner, blackmailed into assisting the Bureau.
  • Franklin Clinton: A young gangbanger who assists Michael and Trevor in their work for the FIB.
  • Billy Grey: Former President of The Lost MC who agreed to testify against his friends.
  • Anthony Corrado: A Pegorino Family associate who wore a wire for the FIB.

Branding and Design

The FIB's branding is a direct parody of the FBI. The visual identity of its agents varies across games.

  • In Grand Theft Auto IV, agents are typically late-middle-aged Caucasian men. Some wear casual clothes with a navy blue jacket featuring the FIB logo, while others wear a more formal white collared shirt, black sweater vest, and black suit pants, with a gold badge worn around the neck.
  • In: *Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars ***, agents wear grey or blueish jackets with brown pants and blue caps with "FIB" printed in white.
  • In: Grand Theft Auto V**, the FIB has a more varied appearance with distinct divisions:
  • Security Division: Agents in suits with FIB ID cards.
  • Field Agents: Agents in blue jackets with "FIB" decals, or suits with blue "FIB" bulletproof vests.
  • Tactical Division: Agents using the same model as NOOSE TRU officers but with "FIB" decals on their tactical vests instead of "POLICE".

Their primary vehicles include the FIB Buffalo and the FIB Rancher.

Services

As a law enforcement agency, the FIB's "services" revolve around investigation and enforcement, often with a high degree of aggression and corruption.

In gameplay, their agents are formidable opponents. They are always equipped with Body Armour, making them difficult to neutralize. In combat, they tend to move independently to flank the player, a contrast to the unit-based tactics of NOOSE. When pursuing in vehicles, they are highly dangerous, capable of performing drive-by shootings with powerful SMGs, with up to three agents firing simultaneously from an FIB Buffalo.

In Grand Theft Auto V, their role shifts from wanted level response to being key antagonists and participants in major story missions, where they conduct raids, defend their headquarters, and engage in large-scale firefights.

Locations / Presence

The FIB maintains a significant presence with major office buildings in both Liberty City and Los Santos.

Stations

  • FIB Building: Located in Easton, Algonquin in Grand Theft Auto IV.
  • FIB Headquarters: A major skyscraper located in Downtown, Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto V.
  • Varsity Heights Police Station: Used by the FIB in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.

_Prominent Appearances in Missions **The FIB is involved in numerous missions throughout the HD Universe.Grand Theft Auto IV:: To Live and Die in Alderney, Flatline

  • The Lost and Damned: Bad Cop Drop, Politics, Off Route, Marta Full of Grace, When the Blue Chips are Down
  • The Ballad of Gay Tony: Going Deep
    Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars:: Salt in the Wound
    Grand Theft Auto V:: Dead Man Walking, Three's Company, By the Book, Blitz Play, Paleto Score Setup, Monkey Business, Cleaning out the Bureau, The Bureau Raid, The Wrap Up, Lamar Down, The Third Way

Grand Theft Auto Online

The FIB is a recurring faction in_Grand Theft Auto Online, appearing in numerous missions and updates.
***Missions:**They are the primary antagonists in the mission Rooftop Rumble.
***Heists:**They are involved in_The Humane Labs Raid_during the mission Humane Raid - Key Codes. In_The Diamond Casino Heist, players must steal from them in Heist Prep: Unmarked Weapons and Heist Prep: Hacking Device.
***Updates:**Executives and Other Criminals:: Appear in the VIP Work mission Hostile Takeover.Gunrunning:: Appear in the mission Exit Strategy.Los Santos Tuners:: They are the target of The Union Depository Contract.The Contract:: Appear during the setup mission Setup: Data Recovery.The Criminal Enterprises:: The FIB is heavily featured in the Operation Paper Trail missions, including ULP - Intelligence, ULP - Counterintelligence, and the finale.

center|thumb|300px|The FIB Seal and Logo.

center|thumb|300px|Player owned FIB Agent Suit

center|thumb|300px|Player owned FIB Arbitrator Suit

center|thumb|300px|Player owned FIB Facilitator Suit

center|thumb|300px|Player owned FIB Mediator Suit

center|thumb|300px|Player owned FIB Negotiator Suit

center|thumb|300px|FIB HQ Building is located on the intersection of Power Street and San Andreas Avenue in Pillbox Hill, Downtown Los Santos.

Trivia

  • The FIB directly replaces the real-world FBI, which was featured in the 3D Universe games.
  • In the Grove Street Games mobile releases of 3D Universe titles, some pedestrian models were changed to FIB agents, though vehicles and dialogue still correctly refer to the agency as the FBI. This is not considered a canon change.
  • In_Grand Theft Auto V_, some of the UFOs that appear after 100% completion display the initials "FIB" on their hulls.
  • In_The Ballad of Gay Tony_, the FIB is responsible for shutting down the in-game website goldforlife.biz.

References

  1. https://www.fbi.gov/investigate