The inclusion of an interactive animal companion has become an increasingly defining feature of Rockstar Games' open-world design philosophy. From the introduction of Chop the Rottweiler in Grand Theft Auto V (2013) to the deep emotional bonds forged with horses and the optional dog encounters in Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018), Rockstar has demonstrated a consistent willingness to invest development resources into non-human companions. With Grand Theft Auto VI scheduled for release on 19 November 2026 (Wikipedia, 2026), speculation is rife within the community as to whether—and in what form—Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos will be accompanied by an animal companion in the swamps, beaches, and urban sprawl of Leonida.
Chop, a large Rottweiler originally owned by Lamar Davis, serves as a tritagonist to Franklin Clinton in Grand Theft Auto V and a recurring supporting character in Grand Theft Auto Online (GTA Wiki, 2026). Mechanically, Chop represented Rockstar's first major experiment with a controllable, persistent animal companion in a GTA title. Players could switch perspectives to Chop during specific missions—most notably the namesake "Chop" mission and "Predator"—using his canine senses to track targets such as the Ballas member D and Elwood O'Neil (GTA Wiki, 2026). Chop also assisted with locating hidden packages, could be petted, walked, and even interacted with via the now-discontinued companion smartphone application "iFruit," which allowed players to train him with tricks that carried over into the main game.
Chop's narrative longevity is notable: he persists into the 2021-set The Contract DLC for GTA Online, where he is depicted as visibly aged, with greying fur around his muzzle and eyes, and is described by Franklin as no longer "getting around too much" (GTA Wiki, 2026). The Agency Security Guard remarks upon Chop's enduring loyalty despite his old age. This continuity demonstrates Rockstar's willingness to treat animal companions as full characters whose lives progress alongside the human cast.
Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar Games, 2018) elevated the animal companion concept to unprecedented depths. Arthur Morgan's horse functions as more than a mount—it is a persistent companion with a bonding system ranging from levels 0 to 4, unlocking additional manoeuvres (rearing, drifting, piaffe) as trust deepens (Rockstar Games, 2018). Horses possess individual statistics for health, stamina, speed, and acceleration, and crucially, can die permanently, eliciting genuine emotional responses from players.
Beyond horses, RDR2 features encounterable dogs at camps and homesteads that can be petted, fed, and called. The Pinkerton-hunted protagonist's relationship with Cain, the camp dog at Beecher's Hope in the epilogue, exemplifies Rockstar's mastery of subtle environmental storytelling through animal interaction. The game's broader ecosystem, with 200+ animal species exhibiting realistic behaviours, set a new industry benchmark (Rockstar Games, 2018).
The Leonida setting—a fictionalised Florida encompassing Vice City, the Everglades-inspired Grassrivers, and the Leonida Keys (Wikipedia, 2026)—provides a uniquely fertile environment for animal-companion mechanics. The trailers released in December 2023 and May 2025 prominently feature wildlife, including alligators, flamingos, and various dogs visible in residential areas. Several plausible directions for an animal companion are circulating:
No companion has been officially confirmed by Rockstar Games. However, the developer's escalating investment in companion systems across both flagship franchises strongly suggests some form of animal interaction will feature, even if not at Chop's prominence.
Chop established the baseline; RDR2 refined and deepened the formula. GTA VI arrives in a market where players now expect meaningful non-human relationships in open-world titles. Whether through a Rottweiler-style sidekick, a Keys mutt, or expanded ecosystem interactions, the Leonida setting offers Rockstar abundant opportunities to once again redefine the animal companion in interactive entertainment.
GTA Wiki (2026) Chop. Available at: https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Chop (Accessed: 14 May 2026).
Rockstar Games (2018) Red Dead Redemption 2. New York: Take-Two Interactive.
Rockstar Games (2013) Grand Theft Auto V. New York: Take-Two Interactive.
Wikipedia (2026) Grand Theft Auto VI. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_VI (Accessed: 14 May 2026).