An avid fan of Grand Theft Auto has brought to light an intriguing revelation that has largely escaped the attention of most enthusiasts - the recurring presence of a helicopter in the series' cover art. The box art of Grand Theft Auto often exhibits a similar visual style, featuring scenes that provide a glimpse of the gameplay for each installment. However, one particular detail has eluded many fans.

While the first two Grand Theft Auto games achieved moderate success, it wasn't until the series transitioned into the 3D era that the sales figures soared. In addition to the disparity in sales between the early titles and their 3D successors, the initial games also boasted box art that diverged significantly from the later releases. The first game showcased a cityscape through a fish-eye lens, while the second game depicted an aerial view of cars trapped in traffic. Furthermore, the font used on the covers of the first two games differed notably from the familiar white text associated with GTA. Excluding these initial titles, nearly every Grand Theft Auto cover art shares a common feature.

A Reddit user, Preattybeabi, recently shared a compilation of the cover art from the majority of Grand Theft Auto games. The collection encompasses GTA 3, 4, 5, Liberty City Stories, San Andreas, Vice City, Vice City Stories, and the Episodes From Liberty City expansion for GTA 4. The user astutely observed that each box features a helicopter in the top left corner, albeit with variations in angle and design. For instance, the helicopter in GTA 3 is depicted from the side, while the one in San Andreas emits a spotlight. Similarly, the GTA 4 helicopter deviates from the typical police helicopter, and the helicopter in GTA 5 offers a frontal view.

While there are other elements common to the cover art across the games, the presence of the helicopter remains consistent. Additionally, the GTA cover art prominently showcases characters from the game, various vehicles, and, of course, the Rockstar Games logo. Notably, GTA 3 features the highest number of characters on its cover, whereas Vice City Stories exhibits the fewest. Furthermore, five out of the eight games include a motorcycle or motorbike in the top right corner, making it almost as prevalent as the helicopter. Each title presents colorful boxes segmenting different parts of the cover art, with Vice City Stories featuring the fewest segments, while GTA 3 and San Andreas incorporate the most.

Given the uniformity shared by each GTA cover, it is conceivable that the box art for Grand Theft Auto 6 may perpetuate this theme. Should the helicopter be omitted or positioned elsewhere on the cover, it would mark the end of a longstanding trend established by Rockstar Games.