The John Martston & GTA 5 Character Connection Theory Explained

There are various theories that try to connect Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto franchise with its Red Dead Redemption games, and the most outrageous one suggests that John Marston is a predecessor of GTA 5’s characters. If this theory holds true, then not only does it mean the games exist in the same universe but that gamers have been playing as descendants of the infamous Van der Linde gang all along in GTA 5.

The theory, which has been widely shared on Reddit and other social networks, claims that Grand Theft Auto 5’s protagonists (Franklin, Trevor, and Michael) are all descended from John Marston because of their slow-down abilities. While Franklin can slow down time while driving and Michael can slow it when he shoots, Trevor is able to deal extreme damage while taking minimal hits himself. All three of these abilities are said to parallel John Marston’s “Dead Eye” technique, which slows down time and allows players to more easily target enemies.

But that’s not all. The theory also points out that John has three conflicting personalities, which are then evident in GTA 5’s protagonists. On one hand, John is a family man who just wants his family back, which is reminiscent of Michael’s desire to be closer to his family. John also dreams of a better life for his family, representing Franklin’s ambitions of earning a more luxurious life. And finally, John is, of course, a tough cowboy who loves the outlaw lifestyle, which fits Trevor’s outrageous persona.

Do GTA & RDR 2 Really Take Place In The Same Universe?

Unfortunately, this theory’s evidence isn’t exactly the most convincing. Though John is the only character to have Dead Eye in the original Red Dead Redemption, Arthur also has it in the sequel, meaning Arthur could also be an ancestor of the GTA 5’s protagonists if that’s all there is to go on. This fact seems to throw a wrench in the theory’s credibility. But even if this theory doesn’t hold true, there’s other evidence to suggest the two franchises occur in the same universe. For one, players can find a book in GTA 5 called “Red Dead” and written by a J. Marston, which could stand for John Marston or his son Jack Marston. In GTA Online, players can also find the Double-Action Revolver featured in RDR2.

The strongest piece of evidence has to do with time travel. Francis is a character from RDR2 that claims to have traveled through time. Players can find cave drawings that appear to suggest he traveled to ancient Egypt and the modern United States. Eventually, a woman will enter the cave holding a baby with a distinguishable birthmark and bright red hair, telling Arthur the child is name Francis. This directly links Francis to GTA 5’s Epsilon Program, a cult-like group that claims anyone with a prominent birthmark and red hair is descended from the alien emperor Kraff. Similarly, the Epsilon members wear blue robes, the same color of the clothes Francis is spotted in during Red Dead Redemption 2. The Epsilon program has also hinted to the existence of time travel, as their website claims, “The Epsilon Program does not exist in just one time or place,” implying that its members have traveled through various centuries, like Francis. This seems like pretty strong evidence that Red Dead Redemption 2and Grand Theft Auto take place in the same universe, even if John Marston isn’t a direct ancestor of GTA 5’s protagonists.

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