While Russia Bombs Ukraine, GTA 5 Actor Ned Luke Visits Moscow For A Meet-And-Greet

Published Oct 31, 2026, 9:07 AM EDT James Lucas is an Executive Editor at TheGamer who has worked in professional journalism since 2018. A Newcastle University graduate with a degree in Journalism, Media, and Culture, they have written hundreds of guides, news stories, and original reports, with bylines in IGN, NME, GaymingMag, and VG247, sourcing interviews with studio heads, legendary industry figures, prominent actors, and more. An expert on FPS games, Soulslikes, RPGs, and survival horror, James has intimate knowledge of a wide variety of titles, providing in-depth coverage and exclusive profiles. Some of the games they have extensively covered include: Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Elden Ring, and Fallout. They pride themselves on their consistently thorough research, leveraging nearly a decade of industry experience. You can reach them at James.t@thegamer.com GTA 5 actor Ned Luke, known for playing Michael De Santa, has just arrived in Russia for Moscow International Video Game Week. He steps into a country facing severe international sanctions and intense scrutiny following its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A country that killed 328 civilians in September alone, and a market that every major console maker, from PlayStation to Xbox and Nintendo, actively boycotts. Videos surfacing online show Luke at a meet-and-greet with civilians in Moscow, while Russian news outlet Vzglyad—frequently described as Kremlin-aligned and even sanctioned by Canada—reports that the actor called the city a "perfect" setting for a hypothetical future GTA game. Even if he admits that the logistics would be difficult, considering the developers would need to visit the city to ensure accuracy. According to quotes provided by the Moscow Creative Industries Agency, a government operation under the Department of Culture, Luke specifically praised the city's architecture, atmosphere, and people. Propaganda, plain and simple. Not only have PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo suspended all hardware and software sales in Russia, but GTA parent company Take-Two Interactive also refused sales in the country following the invasion, completely cutting off from the Russian market. It's hard to imagine the publisher, or Rockstar for that matter, being all too pleased with Ned Luke partaking in Russian state media and advocating for a Moscow-based game. Ned Luke Is Holding A Q&A And Autograph Signing In Moscow Tonight Luke openly spoke about how much he appreciates Russia's history, but Root Nation reported that Telegram channels discussing the actor's appearance claim he openly admitted he doesn't know much about the country's past. This came after he played the hack-and-slash game, Tsarevna, and urged developers to make more games about women from Russian history. The problem is that he couldn't name a single one, musing that his knowledge starts and stops at Ivan Drago from Rocky 4. The Moscow Video Game and Animation Cluster is holding a 'Video Game Night' on October 31, later today, with a question-and-answer section where Luke will sign autographs and meet fans, providing another opportunity for the state to use a famed GTA 5 actor in its propaganda to help push the narrative that everything is business as usual in the country. Luke, thus far, has not discussed the invasion of Ukraine or the thousands of civilians who have died in the crossfire, only contributing to the whitewashing of the war. Released September 17, 2013 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol Developer(s) Rockstar North Publisher(s) Rockstar Games Engine Rockstar Advanced Game Engine Genre(s) Open-World, Action