# Phil Collins Joins Grand Theft Auto VI's Vice City Soundtrack With Dark New Track
Rockstar Games confirmed that Phil Collins appears on the Grand Theft Auto VI soundtrack with a previously unreleased song. Netflix revealed the news during a dedicated GTA VI showcase event, offering players their first official audio preview alongside extended gameplay footage of the highly anticipated open-world crime simulator.
The Genesis drummer and solo artist contributed an original composition to the game's in-game radio stations. Collins crafted the track specifically for GTA VI's Vice City setting, the fictional 1980s Miami-inspired metropolis that serves as the primary location for the sequel. Netflix's reveal included audio samples but kept the full track under wraps, maintaining mystery around the complete soundtrack composition.
The song choice carries thematic weight. Collins has crafted music across multiple decades and genres, from progressive rock masterpieces with Genesis to introspective solo work throughout the 1990s and 2000s. His involvement signals Rockstar's commitment to pairing authentic artists with the game's immersive world-building. GTA VI launches in Fall 2025 exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, making this soundtrack reveal part of the publisher's escalating hype campaign leading to release.
Vice City represents franchise territory fans recognize intimately. The original Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, released on PlayStation 2 in 2003, became one of the most celebrated entries in the series. That game featured an eclectic, era-appropriate soundtrack spanning synthwave, new wave, and 1980s pop. Rockstar leveraged licensed music as a core gameplay element, allowing players to flip through radio stations while driving stolen vehicles and completing missions. The radio became as memorable as the gameplay mechanics themselves.
GTA VI's return to Vice City raised immediate questions about soundtrack direction. Would Rockstar lean into strict 1980s nostalgia or blend periods? Collins' involvement suggests the team blends classic sensibilities with new material. The "ominous" descriptor applied to the track hints at dark storytelling beats involving the game's protagonists, Jason and Lucia, the first female protagonist in a main GTA title.
Rockstar has historically secured major artists for GTA soundtracks. Previous entries featured music from Kanye West, Flying Lotus, Tyler the Creator, and Kendrick Lamar. These collaborative efforts transform GTA soundtracks into cultural statements, not mere background accompaniment. Collins joining this lineage confirms the publisher's willingness to invest heavily in audio production alongside visual spectacle.
The Netflix reveal strategy differs from traditional marketing. By housing gameplay and soundtrack reveals on a streaming platform rather than YouTube or direct Rockstar channels, the publisher reaches a broader demographic. Netflix's gaming expansion initiatives align with Grand Theft Auto's cultural penetration across both hardcore gamers and mainstream audiences.
GTA VI's extended reveal footage showed Jason and Lucia navigating Vice City's districts, engaging in vehicle pursuits, and performing heists. The dual-protagonist structure represents Rockstar's narrative evolution, allowing players to experience the story through complementary perspectives. Collins' track provides the sonic foundation for these characters' journey through the criminal underworld.
Rockstar plans additional soundtrack reveals leading toward the Fall 2025 launch. The complete radio station line-up will likely span multiple genres and decades, maintaining the series tradition of curated musical diversity. Collins' ominous contribution sets a darker tone than early gameplay footage suggested, hinting at the narrative stakes surrounding Lucia and Jason's rise through Vice City's crime hierarchy.