With the release of “Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6)” set for November 19, 2026, FOX News in the U.S. held a discussion about the game on October 18.
“Could it incite violence?” “It’s strange for people in their 40s and older to be obsessed with video games”… Prejudice against video games continues unabated
The program featured commentators Ben Domenech and Joe Concha as the main participants, who engaged in a discussion about *GTA 6*.
First, the host noted that there was one month left until the release of “GTA 6” and explained that there are concerns that the game series “glorifies crime and violence, which could influence the younger generation.” In response, the host said,“What kind of game is this? Stealing Ferraris, shooting people, and featuring prostitutes and drug dealers? Isn’t this debauchery and decadence taken to the extreme?” “This is a very concerning situation, especially for the younger generation,” he stated.
In response, a commentator noted that *GTA* is one of the premier video game series and pointed out that “the core demographic playing this series is not young people, but people in their 30s.”They also noted that the myth that “violent games lead to more violence” has been debunked time and again, stating, “I am convinced that any sensible American of appropriate age who plays this game will not lose their mind in real life.”
The program’s commentator then cited Tyler Robinson (see CNN), a suspect who shot and killed a U.S. conservative activist in 2025 and was reported to be a gamer, arguing that video games might influence real-world violence.
In response, the program stated, “There have been no reports that suspect Tyler Robinson played the ‘GTA’ series,” “Content bans imposed as government-sanctioned censorship violate the Constitution,” and “I have no intention of letting my 6-year-old child play ‘GTA.’“It is up to us as parents to judge what is appropriate and what is inappropriate,” he stated.
In response, he stated, “Let’s spend more time on the grass (let’s engage with the real world),” and argued that it would be beneficial to spend more time playing soccer, golf, and other activities with children.
In response to this discussion, a commentator in the studio made the following remarks:
“It’s a problem when people in their 40s are playing this game. If you’re (in your 40s or older) playing games, you’re not working hard enough and should find a side job.
Even if you play video games, you need to get outside and engage in real-world activities. You should learn how to fish or find something else to get absorbed in—something more positive.
If you let your children watch video games from a young age, they’ll end up being people in their 40s who play these games in the future.
The program concluded with remarks such as, “Discussions with differing perspectives are valuable,” and “Why don’t we all grab a bag full of coins and head to an arcade? Though I’m not sure if places like that even exist these days.”
Perhaps because this is a program on FOX News, which has strong conservative and Republican leanings, I can’t shake the impression that it overall reflects “American prejudice against video games.” It seems that prejudice against video games among conservatives in the U.S. may still be deeply entrenched.
*Grand Theft Auto VI* is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, for PS5 and XBOX Series X|S.
