genuine question. these games share a universe. the mainline ones have never really crossed over with characters though, its always been brands and radio hosts
is there any precedent for an actual playable character from a previous game turning up, or has that only ever happened in spin offs and online
Accepted answer
No precedent in the mainline games. The universe is shared through brands, radio personalities and occasional references, never through playable characters crossing over.
The closest thing is a character from one game being mentioned in another, which has happened, and that is a very different thing from a cameo.
ok thats the thing i had not thought about. tommy would be an old man. thats actually a much better idea than a cameo and it will absolutely not happen
A radio host returning is the realistic version of this and it has happened before. That is where I would put my expectations.
an old man in a hawaiian shirt in the background of one shot who never speaks. that is the correct amount of cameo
Reading this a month later and that last reply has ruined me... that is exactly the right amount and now I want it badly.
There is also a practical reason. These games are separated by decades of in universe time and the older ones are set in the past. A character from the 2002 game would be in their sixties now.