Ethan Crossfield 
A new GTA 6 promotional screenshot has ignited another round of Rockstar Easter egg sleuthing. Some fans believe it conceals a Red Dead Redemption nod, while others argue the same details fit Vice City better—so here’s what the competing theories are actually based on.
What fans think they spotted in the latest GTA 6 screenshot
The current debate centers on a promotional image tied to the Hawk & Little Morgan Revolver in GTA 6’s Ultimate Edition. On social media, fans have compared Jason’s pose in that image to Arthur Morgan’s key cover art from Red Dead Redemption 2, suggesting Rockstar may be borrowing visual language as a quiet reference.
Supporters of the theory point to extra context from Rockstar’s own fictional branding. In GTA lore, Hawk & Little is described as a company founded in the 1850s, while Red Dead Redemption 2 is set in 1899—an overlap that fans say makes the pairing feel more deliberate. They also argue the revolver’s look resembles Morgan’s well-known firearm, and that the weapon’s name appears to echo the protagonist from Red Dead Redemption.
Why skeptics say it’s more likely a Vice City reference
Not everyone is buying the Red Dead link. A competing theory claims the same revolver imagery is better explained as a Vice City nod instead.
Skeptics focus on the revolver’s .357 designation, also known as the Equalizer, which is presented as an iconic weapon from GTA: Vice City. They argue the Morgan Revolver’s appearance lines up more closely with that handgun than with anything from Red Dead Redemption 2.
They also cite the official description for the GTA 6 premium weapon, which characterizes it as a powerful revolver with classic Vice City styling sourced from the Vercetti Estate, including palm-tree etched grips, engraved detailing, and a high-performance scope. That description, at least on paper, gives the Vice City interpretation clear narrative weight.
How this fits into the bigger pattern of GTA 6 franchise crossovers
This isn’t the first time GTA 6 fans have tried to connect the series to Red Dead Redemption. Back in 2025, many players pointed to guns shown in the game’s second trailer that were manufactured by Duke—a firearm manufacturer associated with Red Dead Redemption 2. At the time, the claim was that these details strengthened the idea that the two Rockstar franchises could share the same universe.
Still, not every claimed reference is equally convincing. The current screenshot debate includes disagreement about how “easter egg-like” Jason’s pose really is. Fans previously treated a Red Dead Online character, Everett Morgan, as a more obvious nod because the character appeared as a sticker in GTA 6’s first trailer—something that would likely require intentional selection or asset reuse. By contrast, critics say the new image simply shows a man holding a gun in a standard pose, making it harder to argue it’s a deliberate callback.
Even with the uncertainty, GTA 6 anticipation remains extremely high, and small details continue to draw intense attention. Whether Rockstar truly intends cross-franchise Easter eggs here—or whether fans are reading too much into marketing visuals—will only be clearer as more official information emerges.
What players should know
- The debate centers on a GTA 6 Ultimate Edition promotional image for the Hawk & Little Morgan Revolver.
- One camp links the image to Red Dead Redemption 2 by comparing Jason’s pose to Arthur Morgan’s key cover art and pointing to Hawk & Little’s in-world founding date.
- Another camp argues the details match Vice City instead, citing the .357 Equalizer and an official description emphasizing Vice City styling from the Vercetti Estate.
- Fans have previously claimed Red Dead connections in GTA 6 marketing, including Duke-branded guns shown in an earlier trailer.
| Theory | Main evidence fans cite |
|---|---|
| Red Dead Redemption nod | Pose comparison to Arthur Morgan cover art; Hawk & Little founding date timing; revolver resemblance and naming tied to Morgan |
| Vice City nod | Connection to the .357 Equalizer from GTA: Vice City; official weapon description highlighting classic Vice City styling from the Vercetti Estate; pose may be too generic |
Expert View
Given the source material, the strongest support for a Vice City link comes from the weapon’s official description explicitly referencing Vice City styling and the Vercetti Estate. The Red Dead theory has plausible lore-based reasoning and visual parallels, but the “pose” argument is inherently subjective, and skeptics are right that a standard gun-holding stance is less conclusive than a clearly placed, intentionally selected asset. Overall: expect more Easter egg talk as GTA 6 details expand, but treat this one as unresolved until Rockstar confirms anything.
