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 we're talking about something I never saw coming, even in my wildest scripts. Context: ElRubius — Rubén Doblas, the number 1 of the Spanish internet scene, end of story — is in the middle of the biggest gaming industry campaign of the year: the GTA VI launch push. Rockstar invited him to their offices, sent him an exclusive lamp with 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 on top of that, he also rocked the green. Both of them. Siroko. On the most-watched livestream in Spanish-speaking internet on the planet. Bear with me, but I need a moment.

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

Let's go in order, because ElRubius's week has been straight out of sci-fi. 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 unseen gameplay and all the details about "the most MASSIVE game in history". The next day he published that video with footage and material nobody had ever seen. To give you an idea of the scale: he's the only Spanish-language creator that Rockstar has opened the studio doors to for this campaign. On top of that he shared a picture of himself in the game's artistic style, and half the internet is betting he'll have a presence or cameo inside GTA VI — for now, a very promising rumour. And the cherry on top was yesterday: mid-stream he showed off the exclusive "VI" logo lamp that Rockstar sent him — both pieces with the palm trees cut out, total Vice City neon vibes — creator merch that doesn't sell anywhere. The whole room bathed in Miami pink. Absolute madness.

Not all smooth sailing though: part of the audience came for him these past days over the physical media debate — GTA VI won't have a day-one physical release and ElRubius copped criticism for his stance on that. My take, with all the love: you can debate physical media (I want my box too, mate), but going after a creator for pulling off something no other Spanish-speaker has achieved sounds like missing the whole point. When you've been the best at what you do for over 15 years people criticise you even when you're making history. Comes with the crown.

And suddenly… the Sporting crest on the throne of the internet

Now for our bit, because I was watching the lamp clip just chilling and suddenly: red-and-white collar, SIROKO on the chest and the Real Sporting de Gijón badge on the biggest Spanish-language creator's stream. First the black — the 1st goalkeeper kit, the one for our wall Yáñez — then the green, the 2nd player kit, the exact same one the team wore Friday at Heliodoro to stay unbeaten. Look, I don't care the reason: for me, and for everyone in this, ElRubius is Sporting and that's final. No more questions, debate not accepted, all he needs is the membership paperwork. The result, no matter what, is historic: millions of people seeing the Sporting shirt while the most anticipated video game ever is being talked about. Some call us small-town folk — they know who they are — well then: the "small town" just appeared on the biggest stream on the planet. For Gijón/Xixón and for the Asturian brand that made it happen, this is pure GOLD.

I'm telling you straight: I have massive respect for ElRubius. He's been number 1 at what he does for over a decade, he's paved the way for everyone coming up — yours truly included — and seeing him rock the red-and-white shirt between exclusive Rockstar lamps and GTA VI videos gives me a buzz you can't imagine. Rubén: whenever you're ready, El Molinón is waiting for you, and I'll get you the away kit with PUXA stitched in myself. 🔴⚪