Fan-favorite Grand Theft Auto V protagonist Michael De Santa might not have returned in Grand Theft Auto Online yet, and his re-appearance might never happen at all, but some think Rockstar Games has been hiding a cameo related to the former career criminal right under our noses. According to this theory posted on Reddit, the so-called "Mud Girl" that makes a prominent appearance in the firstGrand Theft Auto 6 trailer is none other than the stereotypical spoiled Hollywood daughter to Michael and Amanda de Santa, Tracey De Santa.
The first two slides posted by u/BigChubbyFatBoi are side-by-side comparisons between Tracey and the unnamed NPC in GTA 6, showing the admittedly identical eyes, cheeks, and hair of both characters. In the next slide, the poster shows another comparison between the mud girl and the motion capture actress of Tracey, Michal Sinnott, who hasn't done much acting work since GTA 5 came out.
u/BigChubbyFatBoi ends his theory presentation by pointing out a potentially tongue-in-cheek confirmation by Rockstar. The unnamed Hamlet Woman shown in the following sequence after the mud girl is shown says the phrase, "Well, look who's back!". They then added that Tracey hasn't appeared in GTA Online yet, which could be explained by her returning for GTA 6.
With the introduction of the HD Universe with Grand Theft Auto 4, Rockstar basically reset the entire Grand Theft Auto franchise, giving them a chance to start fresh. Although certain characters from older titles made an appearance in GTA 4, the HD Universe, 3D Universe, and the 2D Universe are all considered separate realities.
What this means to say is that the only connected titles are GTA 4, GTA 5, and GTA 6. True enough, GTA 5 featured several returning characters and cameos from GTA 4, including Johnny Klebitz, the protagonist of the GTA 4 DLC, The Lost and Damned.
With Rockstar yet to close the book on GTA Online, more characters from GTA 4 _and even from the si_ngle-player story mode of GTA 5 could make their appearance, including Tracey de Santa. This also means that Rockstar has left the door open for their appearance in the next installment in the franchise. Who knows? Maybe it isn't Steven Ogg and Trevor Philips who's coming back for a shocking cameo in_GTA 6, but possibly Tracey and maybe even her father, Michael.
The fact remains that Michael is the only one of the GTA 5 protagonists who hasn't reappeared in GTA Online, with Franklin Clinton even returning as a temporary playable character as part of The Contract update.
The wait for more official GTA 6 news continues. While Take-Two Interactive has already confirmed when its next earnings call is happening, the way Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick phrased the company's shift in marketing strategy suggests that we won't be hearing more about GTA 6 until after the company's other AAA titles, Mafia: The Old Country and Borderlands 4, have hit store shelves.
Speaking of returning characters, Tommy Vercetti could appear if not at least be mentioned or referenced in GTA 6. The protagonist of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City made Vice City (which wasn't even in Leonida back then!) his playground throughout the late 80s. Even though GTA: Vice City and GTA 6 technically happen in different game universes, the first GTA 6 trailer hinted at a possible connection with the appearance of the Vercetti Estate.
