GTA VI in 3 Visions: 117 Fan Art Posters from 39 Stills

👁 114 reads

Leading up to the launch of GTA VI, Rockstar released a gallery of 39 4K stills: Lucia and Jason, Vice City by night, sun-drenched beaches, the Leonida wetlands, and roadside motels. I took every single one and had three posters generated for each, every time in the style of a different artist. That gave me 117 posters across 28 artists, ranging from Hokusai and Mucha to Satoshi Kon and Saul Bass. Below each still, you will see Rockstar’s original alongside three interpretations side by side, making it best viewed as a direct comparison: how a woodblock print, Art Nouveau, or anime brings out something completely different from the very same scene.

The posters were generated using the image model built into Codex. OpenAI mentioned around launch that Codex would receive GPT-Image-2.6 starting November 5, though Codex itself did not confirm the model version on launch day, so consider this “most likely 2.6”. This time, the generator did not start from a text description alone, but from Rockstar’s still as an image reference, with instructions to preserve the scene, characters, and composition, while reimagining the artistic medium and adapting the horizontal frame into a 4:5 vertical format. You can click any poster to enlarge it and download it as a phone wallpaper.

Fair’s fair: the stills and characters from GTA VI belong to Rockstar Games, and I am showcasing the originals directly from their launch gallery with proper credit. These posters are purely a fan celebration for the launch, not a commercial product. More about the game itself: everything about GTA 6.

The prompt structure

The opening of the prompt, identical across all 117 posters:

Use the supplied reference as the actual scene, faithfully reinterpret it as a new standalone hand-made illustrated full-bleed portrait poster, 4:5 canvas. Preserve subjects, key shapes and relationships; creatively recompose width into height, keep key details in the middle 90%. Make a confident, fully resolved graphic print, not a photograph or a game screenshot with a filter. Adults, fully clad where applicable. N

To this, I added a line specifying the given artist’s technique without naming them directly, following the recipe for posters in the style of the masters.

1. Close in the Crowd

Lucia embraces Jason. Purple light carves their faces out of the club’s dim interior. Three visions: Alfons Mucha, Satoshi Kon, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

2. Bandana Masks

Jason, his face hidden behind a bandana, stands at the counter of a Fleeca bank. Behind him, Lucia keeps watch over the lobby. Three visions: Saul Bass, Kim Jung Gi, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.

3. Marina at Noon

Speedboats bob gently along the docks. Beyond them, a shimmering sheet of water divides the marina from the towering skyline of Vice City. Three visions: Katsushika Hokusai, A. M. Cassandre, Mœbius.

4. Under the Mirror Balls

A packed dance floor swarms beneath glittering mirror balls. Hanging greenery blurs into the sweep of stage lights. Three visions: Fortunato Depero, Winsor McCay, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

5. Rain on the Glass

Lucia grips a handgun beside a rain-streaked window. Through the glass, blue city lights blur into soft smears. Three visions: Satoshi Kon, Aubrey Beardsley, Käthe Kollwitz.

6. The Tree Overlooking the City

Perched on a grassy hillside, a couple sits on the hood of their car. A sprawling tree stands in stark relief against a skyline fading into the summer haze. Three visions: Katsushika Hokusai, Feng Zikai, N. C. Wyeth.

7. Knee scraping the asphalt

Jason leans his motorcycle almost down to the pavement. Right behind him, a patrol car flashes blue lights. Three perspectives: A. M. Cassandre, Kim Jung Gi, Akira Toriyama.

8. Ink on her back

A dancer stands with her back to the viewer by a chrome pole. The outline of her tattoo stands out against the club’s red glow. Three perspectives: Aubrey Beardsley, Lotte Reiniger, Alfons Mucha.

9. A glance between fingers

A young man covers his face with a ringed hand, leaving only a narrow field of vision between his fingers. Three perspectives: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, Käthe Kollwitz, Alfons Mucha.

10. On the other side of the door

Jason leans over the car door, gun in hand. Behind him, Lucia stands under the harsh sun. Three perspectives: Saul Bass, Winsor McCay, N. C. Wyeth.

11. Circling the yacht

Patrol boats, police cars, and a helicopter surround the yacht. The water reflects the first blue flashes. Three perspectives: Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Charley Harper, Kim Jung Gi.

12. Portrait on dollar bills

A dancer with a shoulder tattoo lies across a bed of cash. Violet light washes over her outfit and the scattered dollar bills. Three perspectives: Alfons Mucha, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Mary Blair.

13. Gold in the armchair

A man with a gold handgun leans back in an armchair while someone braids his hair. Cool light from the right cuts across the apartment’s interior. Three perspectives: Mario Miranda, Mœbius, Gustave Doré.

14. On a golden leash

A dog with an open jaw and a heavy gold chain steps into the foreground. Beside it, a man in glasses leans forward. Three perspectives: Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Charley Harper, Mario Miranda.

15. In a Dusty Beam of Light

Jason aims a handgun at an armed man. Backlight cuts through the dust inside the room. Three perspectives: Gustave Doré, Lotte Reiniger, Käthe Kollwitz.

16. Target Beyond the Window

Lucia drives a car, extending a handgun out to the side. The perspective foreshortens the distance between the weapon and the viewer. Three perspectives: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, Kim Jung Gi, Satoshi Kon.

17. Four Gazes

A heavily tattooed man sits before three figures. Hands resting on his shoulders tie the group portrait together. Three perspectives: Käthe Kollwitz, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, Aubrey Beardsley.

18. Neon on the Upholstery

Jason and Lucia look up from an open convertible. Pink reflections slide across the paintwork and upholstery. Three perspectives: Mœbius, Satoshi Kon, A. M. Cassandre.

19. Helmets in the Hall

Bikers in helmets pack the warehouse. The bright rectangle of a headlight breaks through the greenish gloom. Three perspectives: Kim Jung Gi, Fortunato Depero, Gustave Doré.

20. Gas Station at the Violet Hour

Neon traces a red zigzag above the pumps. Beyond the station lies the sprawling purple silhouette of the city skyline. Three perspectives: A. M. Cassandre, Mary Blair, Mœbius.

21. Before the Dressing Room Mirror

In the dressing room, women touch up their makeup and chat in front of the mirror. A row of vanity bulbs repeats across the reflection. Three perspectives: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Winsor McCay, Feng Zikai.

22. The Circle by the Pickup Truck

Jason stands with his back turned before three men and a pickup truck. The setting sun casts long shadows across the lot. Three perspectives: N. C. Wyeth, Ivan Bilibin, Osamu Tezuka.

23. Line of Sight

Lucia takes aim straight ahead. In close-up, her face remains razor-sharp while her hand and the gun barrel dominate the right side of the frame. Three perspectives: Saul Bass, Käthe Kollwitz, Aubrey Beardsley.

24. Toast at the Rusty Anchor

Patrons raise a toast at the Rusty Anchor. Behind them, Jason and Lucia dance on a packed floor. Three perspectives: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Mario Miranda, Osamu Tezuka.

25. Overhead Weight

Jason benches the bar. A low-angle shot emphasizes his wide grip and the diagonal slant of the steel. Three perspectives: Käthe Kollwitz, Fortunato Depero, N. C. Wyeth.

26. Backseat Chase

Lucia, clad in a red top, spins around on the convertible’s backseat. A muzzle flash slices through the street pursuit. Three perspectives: Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Saul Bass, Kim Jung Gi.

27. Pink Beneath the Palms

At a car meet, a woman sits on the hood of a custom pink car, holding up her phone against towering palms and city skyscrapers. Three perspectives: Akira Toriyama, A. M. Cassandre, Alfons Mucha.

28. Shower of Sparks

Jason squints down the rifle sights as sparks spray across a darkened interior. Three perspectives: Fortunato Depero, Kim Jung Gi, Lotte Reiniger.

29. Lionfish on the Reef

A striped lionfish glides just above the coral reef. Far behind it, a diver’s flashlight beam cuts through deep blue water. Three perspectives: Charley Harper, Katsushika Hokusai, Arthur Rackham.

30. Evening at the Table

Bathed in pink club lights, a man wearing a medallion clutches a cup and a stack of bills. Two women lean in close around him. Three visions: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Alfons Mucha, Mario Miranda.

31. Beyond the Side Mirror

Jason leans out of the car window. A side mirror, palm trees, and a helicopter against a bright sky frame the scene. Three visions: N. C. Wyeth, Saul Bass, Akira Toriyama.

32. Flashing Lights Behind

Lucia presses a pistol against her chest. In the background, a police officer and flashing cruiser lights split the night into red and blue. Three visions: Satoshi Kon, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, Mary Blair.

33. By the Fire in Grassrivers

A man with a knife sits by a campfire, a snake draped over his shoulder. An alligator rests on a nearby bench, with the wooden structures of the camp visible behind. Three visions: Shigeru Mizuki, Ivan Bilibin, Gustave Doré.

34. Above the Hotel Pool

A turquoise pool and white cabanas seen directly from above, as birds sweep across the courtyard. Three visions: Charley Harper, M. C. Escher, Mary Blair.

35. Two Profiles Behind the Glass

Jason keeps his eyes locked on the road, one hand steady on the wheel. In the shadows sits a passenger wearing a cap. Three visions: Satoshi Kon, Feng Zikai, Aubrey Beardsley.

36. An Offer in the Backseat

A man in a white blazer slides a handgun across. Instead of the weapon, the focus shifts toward the passenger’s uneasy expression. Three visions: Gustave Doré, Osamu Tezuka, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

37. Nighttime Refuel

Jason fuels up a red car. Two police officers approach from behind, while a helicopter circles above with a searchlight. Three perspectives: Feng Zikai, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Mœbius.

38. Eye Above the Water

An alligator’s eye glows red just above the water’s surface. In the background, a boat carrying passengers cuts through foggy wetlands beneath a crescent moon. Three perspectives: Katsushika Hokusai, Shigeru Mizuki, Charley Harper.

39. Bridge at Dusk

A drawbridge halts traffic on both sides of the canal. The purple evening sky reflects the glow of downtown Vice City. Three perspectives: Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Mœbius, Katsushika Hokusai.

What Worked Best

The most effective shots are those anchored by a single, distinct emotion: Lucia and Jason in the club, the getaway with flashing lights in the rearview mirror, or the lonely motel off the highway. There, each artist has something tangible to grab onto. The sprawling cityscapes fare worse; translating a wide landscape into a vertical 4:5 frame forces the generator to invent the missing half of the composition, and it shows.

A second takeaway: the characters’ faces remain remarkably consistent across different styles. Lucia reimagined by Mucha, Kon, or Toulouse-Lautrec is unmistakably the same person. That is the clear advantage of working with an image reference rather than relying solely on text prompts.

More galleries: Zelda Through the Eyes of 20 Artists, The Gamer’s Atlas and Ink and Pixel.

Kinetyra