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Some memes live their natural course and die before they aren’t funny anymore. But with this one, the only thing that will end the constant “we got X before GTA 6” is, well, the release of GTA 6. Something that might happen this year, but Rockstar loves to delay that game.
Beyond the wait for the game, the meme is also a source of constant nostalgia. It’s been 13 years since the release of Grand Theft Auto 5, and while no one expected an immediate sequel, over a decade is a bit much. These are the wildest things that happened in that time.
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COVID-19 pandemic
The single biggest “before GTA 6” joke online. People genuinely watched the world shut down, work from home become normal, and entire lockdown eras begin and end before Rockstar finally released another Grand Theft Auto.
YouTube/NASA
Artemis II
NASA launched Artemis II around the Moon before GTA 6 arrived. The idea that humanity restarted deep-space lunar missions before a new Grand Theft Auto became one of the meme’s favorite examples.
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Queen Elizabeth II’s death
Queen Elizabeth II reigned for 70 years and still passed away before GTA 6 launched. The internet immediately turned the moment into one of the meme’s darkest recurring punchlines.
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Twitter rebrand to X
People watched Twitter completely change its name, logo, and identity before GTA 6. Years of internet habits vanished while Rockstar fans were still waiting for a trailer.
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Barbenheimer
The simultaneous release of Barbie and Oppenheimer became a full cultural event before GTA 6. Entire meme ecosystems rose and died while the game stayed missing.
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Titan submersible implosion
The Titan submarine story completely dominated the internet for weeks before GTA 6 released, adding another surreal chapter to the growing meme timeline.
YouTube/World of Warcraft
Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard
One of gaming’s biggest corporate buyouts happened before GTA 6. Fans joked that the entire industry was restructuring itself while Rockstar remained silent.
YouTube/James Webb Space Telescope
James Webb Space Telescope launch
Humanity developed a telescope capable of observing ancient galaxies before GTA 6. The meme practically wrote itself the moment the first deep-space images appeared online.
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Writers Guild of America strike 2023
Hollywood experienced another massive writers’ strike before GTA 6. Entire productions stopped across the entertainment industry while Rockstar fans kept refreshing social media.
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Russian invasion of Ukraine
The outbreak of a major European war became another grim addition to the meme. Online users kept comparing world-changing events to Rockstar’s endless development cycle.
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OpenAI ChatGPT release
Generative AI exploded into mainstream culture before GTA 6. People joked artificial intelligence might fully replace humanity before the next Grand Theft Auto appeared.
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TikTok global rise
TikTok grew from a niche app into one of the world’s dominant social platforms entirely during the wait for GTA 6. Some younger fans barely remember life before it.
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The GameStop short squeeze
Reddit users temporarily shook Wall Street before GTA 6 arrived. The bizarre stock market saga became exactly the kind of unbelievable headline the meme thrives on.
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Apple Vision Pro launch
Apple released a futuristic mixed-reality headset before GTA 6. People joked they would experience virtual reality life itself before driving around Vice City again.
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Facebook rebrand to Meta
Facebook transformed into Meta and began chasing the metaverse before GTA 6 was released. Entire tech trends appeared and collapsed during Rockstar’s development cycle.
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Avatar: The Way of Water release
James Cameron finally released the long-delayed Avatar sequel before GTA 6. Considering how long audiences waited for that movie, the comparison became instantly hilarious online.
YouTube/NASA
NASA Perseverance rover landing
NASA successfully landed another rover on Mars before GTA 6. Humanity literally explored another planet while players were still replaying GTA V.
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Discord mainstream growth
Discord went from a gaming app into one of the internet’s main communication platforms before GTA 6. Entire online communities were built during the wait.
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Multiple Minecraft mob votes
Minecraft players went through years of annual mob votes and updates before GTA 6 even got proper gameplay footage. The comparison became especially common in gaming circles.
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Human cloning of monkeys in China
Scientists successfully cloned monkeys before GTA 6 released, giving the internet another absurdly futuristic example to add to the meme’s constantly growing list.
The post 20 Wild Things We Actually Got Before GTA 6 appeared first on Den of Geek.
