GTA 6 detectives think its first trailer actually plays out in reverse—all thanks to an ankle bracelet with some grim, real-world implications

pcgamer.com:

I'm typically sceptical of trailer scrubbers—and there are a hell of a lot of them with Grand Theft Auto 6. Can't blame them, obviously, it's been 10 whole years since we last got a GTA game. 

But they've really been ravenous this time—drawing circles around moles, driving up Spotify numbers, and having some would-be players questioning their mortality. A game trailer shouldn't be giving you an existential crisis, but as you're about to find out, it got me pretty close.

As pointed out by Hudrenn on the game's subreddit, the trailer might be actually telling would-be protagonist Lucia's story in reverse. They sell it with an edit that on its own is convincing, but ultimately conjecture. There's a big 'but' though.

You see, my dear Watson(s): in GTA 6's official cover art, Lucia is wearing an electronic tag in the form of an ankle bracelet. And, as further pointed out by user Ravenbtw, she's not wearing it when she goes on her heist with her (literal) partner in crime. Compare the image below to the one Ravenbtw posted, and yep: no anklet.

It'd be weird for Lucia to get out of prison, potentially deal with an anklet, go on another heist, then go back to prison in time for her to get a second anklet for the character design rendered in the official artwork. Or would it? Because, on the other hand, electronic tagging devices are supremely messed up when you live in a country that privatises their use.

According to a piece by ACLU Florida in 2022, tracking devices like the one Lucia's wearing can be applied to people «awaiting trial, serving probation and parole, and facing immigration proceedings». All this to say, Lucia could be wearing the anklet while she's awaiting trial or while she's on probation. In other words,