GTA 6's First Official Preview Reveals 5 Juicy New Details
Overview & Key Takeaways
GTA 6 upgrades many of Red Dead Redemption 2's stellar mechanics with a more complex honor system and more realistic NPCs
As Grand Theft Auto 6 leakers threaten to spoil the game, Rockstar is stepping in to give fans a more polished look at it ahead of Netflix's trailer reveal. Dazed magazine's September issue features the first and only preview of the game this year. There's a lot to dig into in the mag's write-up, which includes never-before-seen pictures of the open-world game as well as exclusive interviews with Rockstar's developers.
Though the preview is worth reading in full, here are some of the highlights.
GTA 6 will be Rockstar's most realistic game ever
GTA 6 is doubling down on many of Red Dead Redemption 2's more grounded mechanics, Dazed reports. Screenshots already alluded to the possibility that Jason and Lucia's appearance will be impacted by what you do, but the preview shares specific details. Aspects like eating and physical exertion can impact the protagonists' appearance, as can your general play style. If you don't sleep, for example, that will be visible on Jason and Lucia's faces. The realism will be present in smaller details as well, like the ability to purchase phone cases and headphones. Cars should handle better now too, thanks to designers who are also professional race car drivers.
NPCs are getting a major upgrade in GTA 6
Image: Rockstar Games
Unsurprisingly, Rockstar's approach to GTA 6 was a perfectionist one. The studio dedicated an entire team to NPC behavior, and the contributions of these developers were highly specific. One designer, for example, helped develop a "fashion ecosystem" for the NPCs that reflects their "taste, lifestyle, and affluence." As the recent beach leak proved, GTA 6 will feature the widest variety of NPCs in a Rockstar game to date — and those NPCs will be tailored to their regions. Districts have always felt distinct in GTA games, but Rockstar took things one step further by hiring 50 artists to design the murals around town.
Developers spent time with everyone from ex-criminals to club promoters to learn how to best bring characters and NPCs to life. NPCs are programmed to react realistically to how Jason and Lucia behave and what they look like. The aim was to create an environment of "total immersion." In practice, this means that players shouldn't expect to be able to mow through the game like a murderous tyrant. Perhaps the Wanted system won't bring back tank chases after all?
Jason and Lucia's gameplay will be fluid
While players are free to approach the game without their romantic counterpart, sticking together will allow for some unique scenarios. Players can task one character with driving and the other with shooting — and then seamlessly switch between the two at a moment's notice. Fans could also make one character the navigator while the other scrolls the in-game social media to pass the time.
Actions have consequences
Dazed did not get into specifics, but it did tease that *GTA 6'*s morality system would be more complex than RDR2's "honor" system. In that iteration of the mechanic, Rockstar tended to reward playing as a "good" guy, but GTA 6 won't be as cut and dry. The magazine also claimed that the game would have "deep relationship mechanics" of some sort. Between these tidbits and the way GTA 6 keeps track of players' habits, players may want to think carefully about how they move through Leonida.
GTA 6 is a more serious game
Rockstar likes to poke fun at social trends, and some of that humor will still be in GTA 6 — just look at how NPCs behave in the game's infamous nudist town. At the same time, Rockstar doesn't want the game to feel like a parody of Floridian stereotypes. Players should expect fewer "one-off" jokes when it comes to things like in-game brands or shops. The aim is to reflect a "believable culture," not a crass, childish one.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on Nov. 19.
