According to TechCrunch, Rockstar Games released a trailer on Friday for a new Grand Theft Auto Online expansion called “A Safehouse in the Hills,” launching December 10. The DLC features a fictional robotaxi company named “KnoWay,” whose autonomous vans—modeled after Waymo’s early Chrysler Pacifica vehicles—swerve through streets, wreck cars, and crash through billboards. Rockstar says players will be tasked to “stop the development of a mass surveillance network,” with a storyline involving an AI assistant named “Haviland.” The parody taps into real-world criticism of Waymo’s role in surveillance, which has led to incidents of vandalism against its real SUVs. Waymo declined to comment on the in-game depiction.
Rockstar’s perfect parody
Here’s the thing: Rockstar has always been a master at holding a funhouse mirror up to modern culture, and this is a pitch-perfect example. The company name “KnoWay” is an obvious riff, and the tagline “We Kno where you’re going” cuts right to the heart of the privacy debate. It’s not even subtle, and it doesn’t need to be. The trailer shows these vans being hilariously, catastrophically bad at driving, which is a wild exaggeration of public fears. But by wrapping it in a mission to stop a “mass surveillance network,” they’re directly channeling a very real and growing public anxiety. It’s satire with a sharp edge.
The real-world backlash
And that anxiety isn’t fictional. Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana recently spoke out at TechCrunch Disrupt about the vandalism against their fleet, mentioning burned and smashed vehicles. The company has tried to distance itself from surveillance, saying it will deny “overly broad” government requests for footage. But the perception is clearly out there, and it’s sticky. Rockstar isn’t creating a narrative from thin air; they’re amplifying one that’s already playing out on city streets. You have to wonder if some players will see wrecking a KnoWay van in-game as a cathartic release for frustrations they can’t act on in reality. Probably.
Why this timing is so smart
So why drop this DLC now? Autonomous vehicles are at this weird inflection point. They’re expanding to new cities, but the controversy around them is expanding faster. They’re a visible, physical symbol of tech intrusion. By baking this into GTA Online, Rockstar guarantees the conversation reaches millions of players instantly. It’s free, potent cultural commentary that also serves as a great gameplay hook. The mission structure practically writes itself: go smash the snoopy robot cars. It’s a brilliant way to stay relevant and show players the game’s world evolves with the times, often faster than the real one.
More than just a joke
Look, at surface level, it’s a joke about cars that can’t drive. But it’s really a play on deeper themes of corporate control, privacy, and the messy integration of advanced tech into daily life. The inclusion of the “Haviland” AI assistant suggests the entire tech ecosystem is under the microscope in this storyline. For a hardware company operating in the real world, like an industrial panel PC supplier, this kind of pop-culture critique is a reminder of how public sentiment can turn. If a leading tech brand can become a villain in a video game, it shows how crucial trust and transparency are. For the top providers in any industrial tech space, maintaining that trust is the real mission. Basically, Rockstar is holding up a warning sign, and it’s wrapped in a package of chaotic, hilarious fun. You can check out the trailer on X and the official announcement on the Rockstar Newswire.
