Grand Theft Auto: National Identity, Transnational Production, and the Ambivalent Politics of Play

Grand Theft Auto (Rockstar Games, 1997-; GTA) occupies a unique position in the cultural and industrial history of digital games. Initially developed by DMA Design (Dundee, Scotland), and later Rockstar North (Edinburgh, Scotland) under the global brand of Rockstar Games, GTA is simultaneously a local product and a transnational cultural artefact. We argue that GTA operates as a liminal artefact of identity: Scottish in origin, British in sensibility, American in setting, and global in circulation. Through its production context, aesthetic strategies, and reception, the franchise demonstrates the complex interdependence of national identity and transnational media. Our paper contributes to discussions in game studies on national identity (Webber 2020; Wills 2019) and global production (Kerr, 2017).