Phil Collins Returns To Vice City With An Ominous Song Choice For Jason And Lucia
Rockstar Games has officially added a significant layer of narrative foreshadowing to the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI by confirming the inclusion of Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds” in the game’s soundtrack. This track, originally released in 1984, serves as a direct callback to the singer’s iconic performance in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, where he rendered a digital rendition of “In the Air Tonight” for a neon-soaked 1984 setting. The selection is far from random; the song is inextricably linked to the doomed romance of the 1984 neo-noir film of the same name, starring Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward. By placing this specific track within the audio landscape of the new game, the development team is signaling that the central relationship between protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos may be destined for a similarly tragic conclusion.
The reveal comes via an extended promotional collaboration between Netflix and Rockstar, which offered fans a detailed look at the game’s mechanics and visual fidelity. Beyond the gameplay demonstrations, the advertisement listed over a dozen new licensed tracks set to accompany players during their criminal escapades in the reimagined state of Leonida. According to Kotaku, this latest batch of music joins a diverse array of listings, ranging from classic yacht rock and stadium anthems to modern R&B and hip-hop. The soundtrack appears designed to capture the eclectic audio culture of a 1980s-inspired Florida, blending nostalgic hits with contemporary sounds to create a unique auditory identity for the title.
The chosen musical palette is surprisingly eclectic, featuring a mix of high-profile pop acts and more obscure indie favorites. Alongside the ominous Collins track, confirmed artists include Depeche Mode, Def Leppard, and Sexyy Red, whose “Pound Town” suggests a shift toward harder-edged crime beats. More intriguingly, the list includes “Off The Grid” by the indie rock band !!! and “Cars and Girls” by the band Prefab Sprout. This inclusion of less mainstream choices hints at a radio station design that rewards players with deeper cuts, moving beyond the obvious pop references that defined previous entries in the series.
Jesse Hawken, a podcaster and self-proclaimed expert on the band Prefab Sprout, spoke to Kotaku about the implications of hearing “Cars and Girls” in the game’s audio. He offered a somewhat dark interpretation of the track’s presence, suggesting its title and lyrics serve as a warning to the player. “When you get a 5 star wanted level you will understand that some things hurt more, much more, than cars and girls,” Hawken stated, expressing hope that the game might feature a dedicated radio station for the band. His comments highlight how the soundtrack is not merely background decoration but an integral part of the game’s thematic storytelling, using familiar songs to convey subtext about the protagonists’ precarious situation.
This development is particularly significant as it reinforces the narrative gravity of the long-awaited sixth mainline entry, which is slated for release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2026. As the first major installment in the franchise since 2013, the game returns to the fictional state of Leonida, a reimagined take on the Florida coast that serves as the backdrop for the story of Jason and Lucia. The careful curation of music, specifically the choice of a song famous for its association with heartbreak and betrayal, suggests that Rockstar is treating this installment with a level of dramatic seriousness that mirrors the tone of its earlier Vice City titles. The return to this specific geographic and cultural setting allows the developers to leverage existing fan expectations while subverting them with more mature narrative cues.
From an editorial standpoint, this musical choice demonstrates Rockstar’s commitment to using environmental storytelling to deepen the player's emotional investment in the characters. In a decade where anticipation for GTA VI has reached fever pitch, such subtle details provide concrete evidence that the development team is focused on narrative cohesion rather than just technical spectacle. The inclusion of “Against All Odds” is a bold move that risks labeling the protagonists’ journey as a tragedy before the player has even begun, but it aligns with the franchise’s history of anti-heroic narratives where happiness is often fleeting. This approach could ultimately define the game’s legacy, positioning it not just as a technical marvel, but as a sophisticated exploration of the consequences of a life in crime.
Furthermore, the expansion of licensed music and in-game radio stations represents a strategic opportunity for Take-Two Interactive to solidify the game’s cultural impact. As seen in previous marketing cycles, the soundtrack has the power to drive massive engagement, with fans creating playlists and debating track choices long before the title launches. By balancing well-known hits like “But I Think It’s a Dream” by Captain & Tennille with more niche selections, Rockstar ensures that the audio experience appeals to a broad demographic while maintaining the gritty, realistic aesthetic of the Vice City setting. This attention to detail in the audio department complements the visual and mechanical upgrades, ensuring that the return to a reimagined Vice City feels both familiar and refreshingly new for the modern console generation.