GTA 5 actor Ned Luke, known for playing Michael De Santa, has just arrived in Russia for Moscow International Video Game Week. He steps into a country facing severe international sanctions and intense scrutiny following its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A country that killed 328 civilians in September alone, and a market that every major console maker, from PlayStation to Xbox and Nintendo, actively boycotts.
Videos surfacing online show Luke at a meet-and-greet with civilians in Moscow, while Russian news outlet Vzglyad—frequently described as Kremlin-aligned and even sanctioned by Canada—reports that the actor called the city a "perfect" setting for a hypothetical future GTA game. Even if he admits that the logistics would be difficult, considering the developers would need to visit the city to ensure accuracy. According to quotes provided by the Moscow Creative Industries Agency, a government operation under the Department of Culture, Luke specifically praised the city's architecture, atmosphere, and people. Propaganda, plain and simple.
Not only have PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo suspended all hardware and software sales in Russia, but GTA parent company Take-Two Interactive also refused sales in the country following the invasion, completely cutting off from the Russian market....
