Although the game won’t be released for another year (and possibly longer for PC users), that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating.

The Grand Theft Auto VI community is known for its meticulous detective work, ranging from frame-by-frame analysis of trailers to creating detailed maps of the game world. However, few fan theories demonstrate such a high level of expertise. On GTAForums, JohnCGaming wrote a scholarly analysis of co-protagonist Jason’s military background that quickly became required reading. Titled “Jason’s Military Service, Slightly Analyzed,” the post is several thousand words long and reads more like a military history essay than a typical fan theory. Drawing on decades of U.S. Army tradition, historical references, and Rockstar’s thorough research, JohnCGaming claims that Jason once served in the 75th Ranger Regiment, one of the most elite light infantry units in the U.S. Army.

The proof? A tattoo on Jason’s left arm: a skull under a parachute framed by the word “Marauders.” This motif appears to refer to Merrill’s Marauders, a legendary World War II commando unit whose descendants now form the backbone of the modern Ranger Regiment. JohnCGaming then traces the evolution of the Rangers from colonial-era reconnaissance companies and jungle warfare in Burma to their current operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. The result is part history lesson and part fan investigation, a wild yet impressively coherent blend of research and imagination.

The implications for the story of Grand Theft Auto VI are fascinating. If Jason is indeed a former Ranger, he would be one of Rockstar’s most talented and disciplined protagonists, quite different from the volatile Trevor Philips of Grand Theft Auto V or the brooding ex-militia man Niko Bellic of Grand Theft Auto IV. This could explain Jason’s calmness in the game’s tense heist scenes as well as his distinctive tactical gear, which has been glimpsed in leaked information, early screenshots, and brief snapshots of Vice City life in the game’s two trailers.

Whether or not Rockstar confirms this theory, it’s one of the smartest and most thoughtful Grand Theft Auto VI speculations to date. Even after such a long absence, Rockstar’s worlds continue to inspire a fanbase that treats every frame, blemish, and tattoo as a clue worth following.

Source: PCGamer, GTAForums