ElRubius, Rockstar's exclusive GTA VI lamp… and a Real Sporting de Gijón shirt: the crossover you didn't know you needed

What's up, lads? Today I need to talk about something I wouldn't have scripted even in my wildest dreams. Context: ElRubius — Rubén Doblas, the number 1 internet personality in Spanish-speaking world, full stop — is in the middle of the biggest gaming campaign of the year: the GTA VI launch push. Rockstar invited him to their offices, sent him an exclusive lamp featuring the game's logo that he showed off live yesterday… and in that very same stream, he appeared wearing the black goalkeeper kit of Real Sporting de Gijón. And as if that wasn't enough, he also rocked the green one. Both of them. Siroko gear. On the most-watched Spanish-language stream on the planet. Give me a second, I need to process this.

What Rubius is doing with Rockstar (and why it's historic)

Let me break this down properly, because Rubius's week has been science fiction stuff. On August 26th he dropped the tweet that broke the internet: "I've visited Rockstar North. GTA VI. Tomorrow the secret ends" — thanking Rockstar for "inviting him to their place" and promising exclusive footage with never-before-seen gameplay and all the details "of the BIGGEST game in history". The next day he published that video with gameplay and material no one had seen. To give you scale: he's the only Spanish-speaking creator that Rockstar opened their studio doors to for this campaign. On top of that he shared an image of himself in the game's art style, and half the internet reckons he'll have a presence or cameo in GTA VI — for now, a rumour with very solid legs. And the cherry on top was yesterday: right in the middle of his stream he showed off the exclusive "VI" logo lamp that Rockstar sent him — the two pieces with cut-out palm trees, proper Vice City neon vibes — creator merch that's NOT sold anywhere. The entire room bathed in Miami pink. Absolute madness.

Not everything's been rosy though: part of the community has come down on him these days over the physical format debate — GTA VI won't have a physical edition at launch and Rubius has caught stick for his position on that. My take, with all due respect: you can debate the physical format (I want my box too, mate), but laying into a creator for achieving something no other Spanish-speaker has achieved shows you don't get it. The ones who've been the best at what they do for over 15 years get criticized even when they make history. That's the price of being top dog.

And suddenly… the Sporting crest rules the internet

And now for our bit, because I was watching the lamp clip chilled out when suddenly: red and white collar, SIROKO across the chest and the Real Sporting de Gijón badge on the biggest Spanish-speaking creator's stream. First the black — the primary goalkeeper kit, the one our wall Yáñez wears — and then the green, the players' secondary, the same one the team wore Friday at Heliodoro to stay unbeaten. Look, I don't care why: for me, and for everyone in this, Rubius is Sporting through and through. Nothing else to say, no debate accepted, his membership card just needs the paperwork sorted. The result, either way, is historic: millions of people watching Sporting's shirt while talking about the most-anticipated game in history. Some call us the village folk — they know who they are — well then: the "village" just appeared on the biggest stream on the planet. That's pure GOLD for Gijón and for the Asturian brand that made it happen.

I'm telling you straight: I have massive respect for Rubius. He's been number 1 in his game for over a decade, he's blazed the trail for all of us following behind — your humble servant included — and seeing him take a moment away from exclusive Rockstar lamps and GTA VI videos to parade around in the red and white makes me happier than you can imagine. Rubén: whenever you want, El Molinón is waiting for you, and I'll personally get you the away kit with PUXA stitched on. 🔴⚪