"He's coming, for his boat": GTA 6 fans speculate GTA 5's Michael to return in Vice City

While Grand Theft Auto fans are excited to meet new characters in GTA 6, they also hope to see some old ones return. One of them is GTA 5's protagonist, Michael De Santa. In fact, many fans believe Rockstar Games might've placed an Easter egg related to Michael in the upcoming title's second trailer in the form of a boat resembling his stolen yacht.

For instance, X user @21dpsArt uploaded a custom artwork of Michael in the style of Grand Theft Auto 6, and captioned it:

Interestingly, Michael De Santa's actor, Ned Luke, responded to this tweet and appreciated the fan-made artwork.

The boat in question appears in the initial moments of GTA 6 trailer 2, just outside the house of the title's male protagonist, Jason Duval. This has made a section of the fanbase wonder if it was Jason who stole Michael's boat in GTA 5, and whether the latter might come to Vice City to get it back.

Ned Luke, notably, commented something along these lines while replying to the X post above:

However, this comment seems to be just a joke. Also, there are a couple of differences between these boats. For example, Michael's boat appears to have a wooden deck. The GTA 6 trailer 2 boat also has different fenders.

As can be inferred from the comments above, not everyone is on the same boat when it comes to this potential Michael De Santa easter egg in Grand Theft Auto 6.

Could Michael De Santa from GTA 5 return in GTA 6?

Michael De Santa's yacht got stolen in the GTA 5 story mode mission, Father/Son. A similar boat appearing in Grand Theft Auto 6's second trailer has made fans speculate if this might be that exact vehicle.

Both titles are likely to be set in the franchise's HD Universe, and as Michael is quite a popular character, it wouldn't be surprising if he showed up in Vice City (a major location in the GTA 6 map).

It's rare for a GTA title's protagonists to appear in future entries. So, while there seems to be a very slight possibility of Michael returning, or at least being referenced in Grand Theft Auto 6, the odds don't look to be in favor of that much at this moment.

About the author

Suyash is an Esports and Gaming journalist at Sportskeeda who specializes in Rockstar Games' GTA franchise. Suyash uses in-depth research and knowledge of his immense experience with the game series to ensure readers have access to the most reliable information. His insightful content pieces have raked in more than 5 million views in just a little over a year's time.

Suyash holds a B.Tech degree and ventured into the world of gaming at a young age through the Prince of Persia Sands of Time trilogy. However, upon encountering GTA Vice City’s 1980s aesthetic, music, and vintage cars, he became enamored with the game, leading him to explore the rest of the franchise.

Suyash prefers solo titles to multiplayer, especially ones with a well-crafted story and character arcs. He admires journalist Jason Schreier for the respect he commands in the industry and the reliability of his news pieces. To ensure the accuracy of his own pieces, he checks multiple reputable sources and insiders.

If he were to recommend a game to a skeptic, it would be Naughty Dog’s Uncharted series. When he’s not roaming the streets of Los Santos in GTA V, you can find him playing football, watching movies, or working out.

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