'Unlike other random NPCs, the way Rockstar designed GTA V's trans people actively plays into the hateful stereotypes harbored by many transphobic players,' Petit wrote.

But the move comes months after content like this was labeled 'transphobic' by Out Making Games, a self-described 'group of hundreds of LGBTQ+ games professionals working in the UK games industry.' In an open letter written in September, the group cited coverage from Kotaku's Carolyn Petit that called out problems with trans representation in the original 2013 release. Rockstar hasn't responded to a request for comment on the apparent changes. While those character models can still be accessed in the game's sandbox-style Director Mode, dialogue options that make explicit reference to their gender and sexuality have been removed. Kirsty Cloud, who helps run fan community GTAnet, has also highlighted that over-the-top trans woman character models, apparently referred to as 'drag queen' in the game's files, no longer spawn outside Cockatoos, an in-game nightclub. I hope this provides comfort to anyone who felt these NPCs depicted harmful stereotypes 🏳️‍⚧️

This could be following a plea from OutMakingGames last year. In new-gen GTAV/GTAO, Rockstar appear to have disabled the trans caricatures or “drag queens” from spawning outside Cockatoos. A hot-pink-clad 'Captain Spacetoy' figure, in a box highlighting 'interchangeable genitalia,' has been removed in the new console versions of the game an alternative figure with a more reserved outfit and 'posable vomit direction' remains on the wall. Reddit user JayProspero was among the first to notice a change to the action figures lining the wall of the office in the in-game arcade.

Now, players have noted a few such changes to transgender representation in the 'expanded and enhanced' upgrades to the game recently released for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. In recent years, the press and LGBTQ+ groups have been putting pressure on Rockstar Games to remove or change content they see as 'transphobic' in Grand Theft Auto V.

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