We’ve been inundated with new details on Grand Theft Auto 6 since the premiere of the Extended Look, as various outlets and content creators visited Rockstar to see the game in action. Granted, this isn’t even close to covering everything, yet it highlights the sheer amount of stuff to do, even during something as simple as fast traveling, and how the development team has evolved its own systems to new levels.
Here are 15 new things you should know about Grand Theft Auto 6, starting with a question: How big do you think the world really is? Well…
Triple the Size of RDR2’s Playable Area
We’ve spoken forever about how a game’s setting doesn’t have to be absolutely massive – it just needs to feel alive. Well, Grand Theft Auto 6 is achieving that, and it’s also three times as large as Red Dead Redemption 2’s playable area, developers revealed to The New York Times. This is the overall map, so you can likely expect underwater exploration to be factored in, but it’s still absolutely insane to imagine the scale and level of detail.
“Well Over” 600,000 animations
Speaking of which, the quality of animations isn’t the only thing to have massively improved over RDR2. In the same preview, it was revealed that Grand Theft Auto 6 has “well over” 600,000 animations – contrast that to its last game, which had 300,000. Or Grand Theft Auto 5, which had 55,000.
No Microtransactions
As excited as many of us are for single-player, there’s the lingering question about Grand Theft Auto Online. Is it included with GTA 6? If so, will it release post-launch? How long after? Whenever that may be – if it’s even the case – Rockstar told Kinda Funny Games that there are no microtransactions in the single-player story. Straight up, no using real money to buy items in-game.
Reportedly Running at 1440p and 30 FPS
Anyone who’s seen the cutscenes and gameplay can attest that it wasn’t running at 60 FPS. And apparently, it’s unknown if that will even be an option at launch. Day Jones of Flow Games claims to have spoken to Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson, who said that GTA 6 on consoles is running at 30 frames per second currently. Details on resolution and ray tracing remain up in the air, although there are reports out there that claim the preview was running at 1440p. Whether high frame rates are possible is purportedly something that Nelson needs to discuss with the technical team. Either way, 30 FPS would be par for the course, considering Rockstar’s last two console releases.
Fit to Function
The ability to gain weight officially returns, but as tempting as it can be to gorge on everything that Leonida has to offer, it may behoove most players to visit the gym. According to TGG, who visited Rockstar last month and witnessed three hours of Grand Theft Auto 6, they’re fully interactive with all kinds of exercises and even memberships. The game even tracks repetitions and overall progress, and even if it’s completely optional, working out will improve your health and stamina – both sure to lend an edge in various criminal activities.
Startup Funds
But as much as health is wealth, sometimes you’ll need actual scratch to progress through the story. IGN notes that a “certain amount of capital” is required to maintain the “flow” of the main missions, which certainly sounds to us like needing resources to organize a big score or three. Either way, money matters, and the more you can make by robbing convenience stores, stealing cars, and more, the better.
Gone in 60 Seconds
Society has evolved in GTA 6, and so has grand theft auto itself. Depending on a car’s age and how expensive it is, entry methods can range from a slim jim to unlock the door to outright cloning car keys. They may even have alarms and trackers, the latter attracting the police if you don’t gun it in time. Of course, if you find a car with the driver still inside, it should be relatively easier to steal from the get-go.
Criminal Profiles
The Honor system from Red Dead Redemption 2 has evolved into something else entirely in GTA 6: Criminal Profiles. Think of it as a rap sheet of sorts – going on killing sprees or lashing out at the world will be considered, and people may react to you differently. It’s not affected by robberies or occasions where firing on enemies is necessary, but given the impact on the story, you might want to think twice before waylaying some poor fool on the street.
Cuff Links
Your phone may very well be your best friend/guilty pleasure (just like in real life!) in GTA 6, but unlike GTA 5, it now functions as a proper phone. Instead of popping up in the bottom right as a separate menu, the perspective zooms in as Jason and Lucia actually browse through it.
Conversations With Passengers
Plenty of apps to peruse, but one that will likely come in most handy is Ryde Me for fast traveling. Even better, like Uber or Lyft, you might occasionally ride with another passenger and can speak to them throughout, per IGN. What happens if they go off the rails and take you along for the ride? Time will tell.
Travel to the Location of Social Media Posts
Of course, there’s also social media, and you can follow different accounts for updates. But that’s not all. As NPCs post about goings-on in Leonida, you can actually travel to the same locations. Occasionally, you might arrive as they’re still posting. Besides mirroring the real-world practice of stream-sniping, it could help track down certain random encounters with unique stories.
Eavesdropping on NPCs
Want to listen in on other people’s conversations? Go ahead, but unlike Kliff in Crimson Desert, you’ll pay if caught. Sometimes, it could be a simple acknowledgement of your creepiness; other times, they may straight up become hostile, according to IGN. So while it can be an excellent way to glean information, don’t make it too obvious.
Quick Gang, Let’s Split Up
You’ll probably have noticed the icons underneath the stars when the police are hunting you, including one that identifies your clothing, vehicle and whether Jason and Lucia are solo or together. Splitting up is viable per IGN, and it may even help the other person avoid arrest. That doesn’t mean they’re completely in the clear, or that you can escape scot-free, but it’s a nice touch, and maybe even the best approach given the situation.
Raul’s Glorious Mane
Thus far, the hair physics have been stunningly on point for both protagonists (well, at least whenever Jason can bother to have hair). But we were caught off-guard by the physics for other characters. Pay close attention to Raul Batista while the trio are escaping from the police – his locks flow so naturally that he may, in fact, be born with it.
Can Take 80 Hours to Finish
Based on all the details gathered from previews and the Extended Look, it’s clear that Rockstar doesn’t just want you to dive into the story – it wants you to live in modern-day Vice City, immersing yourself as either or both characters. But if you decide to witness their ultimate fates, it may take up to 80 hours. That was the length of Nelson’s playthrough, which he told The New York Times included “optional goals with narrative ramifications.” It’s Rockstar’s longest game to date, but players may easily double that total, getting lost amid a sea of distractions.
