I turned GTA 5 into Pokémon Go with a mod — and the Charmander cursed me out

An experimental modder trying to turn Grand Theft Auto 5 into a PC version of the unreleased GTA 6 has installed a mod called Pokémon Go GTA Edition, which replaces pedestrians with Pokémon. The streets of Los Santos became empty of people and filled with Geodudes, Charmanders, and a Squirtle. Pikachu was never spotted during testing.

The player sent Trevor on Franklin's motorcycle to hunt for Pokémon. In what he describes as "drive-bys," he captured a Geodude and a Squirtle. However, a Charmander broke free from its Pokéball and began cursing at the character. The author is unsure whether the mod only works with Trevor or if a previously installed mod is causing compatibility issues.

The experiment is part of a larger project to turn GTA 5 into a rough version of the upcoming GTA 6. Earlier, the author discovered that most objects in the game die if hit by a car at supersonic speed. He also notes that Los Santos feels like a lonely city — unlike GTA 6's Bonnie-and-Clyde love story protagonists, Franklin, Michael, and Trevor are insular men who cruise the highways alone. The Pokémon mod was meant to give them companions, making them "the very best, like no one ever was."