Saturday Night Live Season 52 featured a Weekend Update sketch pitting GTA 6's Jason against The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake's Link in a six-minute gaming showdown. The segment aired October 4, 2026, hosted by Dakota Johnson with musical guest Turnstile and a surprise Taylor Swift cameo. Gaming fans have largely criticized the sketch for relying on outdated stereotypes and a surface-level portrayal of Rockstar's upcoming protagonist.
Legendary producer Todd Rundgren claims video games diverted boys' spending from music in the 1990s, creating the female-dominated pop landscape that produced Taylor Swift. The Bat Out of Hell producer argues gaming stole a generation of potential male rock musicians, though modern gaming demographics and artists like Lady Gaga complicate his narrative.
