GTA VI looks just as great as we could hope for
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
New coverage indicates that Grand Theft Auto VI will be a much larger and more flexible open-world game than previously shown, alongside the extended footage released by Netflix and Rockstar. The previews suggest players can freely switch between Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, shape aspects of their relationship, and tackle missions using complementary combat and stealth roles.
Rockstar North’s Rob Nelson said a February playthrough, including some optional content, lasted 80 hours, while Rockstar told The New York Times that the map is three times the size of Red Dead Redemption 2’s playable area. The PS5-captured footage shows improved environmental detail, police chases, shooting and exploration, plus activities including boating, basketball, diving, racing and parachuting; Snapmatic returns but cannot be used to post publicly because the protagonists are fugitives.
- GTA VI’s map is reportedly triple Red Dead Redemption 2’s playable area.
- A partial playthrough reportedly lasted 80 hours.
- Players can switch freely between Jason and Lucia.
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Grand Theft Auto is a long-running series of crime-themed video games made by Rockstar Games. Players usually explore fictional versions of American cities, taking part in story missions and optional activities while moving freely around a large map.
Grand Theft Auto VI is set in Leonida, a fictional state inspired by Florida, including a modern version of Vice City. Its two main characters are Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, who are portrayed as fugitives drawn into criminal activity.
The series is one of the biggest in entertainment, with previous games selling tens of millions of copies and attracting attention for their scale, storytelling and mature themes. The new game is important to publishers, console makers and players because it is expected to be a major release after a long gap since Grand Theft Auto V.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters can reasonably see the new footage and developer comments as evidence that GTA VI is aiming for a notably richer open world, with dual protagonists, varied activities and more flexible approaches to missions. If the reported scale, environmental detail and character-switching systems work as described, the game could offer an unusually deep and replayable experience that justifies the high expectations surrounding it.
The case against
Sceptics can reasonably argue that previews and developer estimates are not the same as a finished game in players’ hands, particularly for a project of this size and ambition. A map three times larger and an 80-hour playthrough may sound impressive, but the important questions are whether the activities are meaningful, the missions retain freedom in practice, and the final performance and quality match the carefully selected footage.
Full account
Rockstar Games and Netflix have released an extended look at Grand Theft Auto VI, offering a fuller view of the action, setting and central partnership than the game’s earlier trailers. The footage presents a return to familiar Grand Theft Auto territory: open-world travel, vehicle chases, criminal jobs, gunfights and highly staged story sequences. It also points to a substantial visual advance over previous instalments, with crowded interiors, detailed streets and more elaborate environmental animation. The presentation states that the material was captured on PlayStation 5.
Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos appear to be at the centre of the game’s playable structure. Several sequences suggest that their roles can shift within the same encounter: in one chase Jason leans from a moving vehicle to fire at pursuing police while Lucia drives, while another scene appears to put Lucia at the wheel as Jason and a third character return fire. A separate mission shows the pair working apart in the same building, with Jason handling an armed confrontation upstairs and Lucia attempting to avoid detection elsewhere. Brief on-screen prompts during a struggle indicate close-quarters escape interactions.
Beyond the main missions, the footage includes short glimpses of a weapon-selection interface and a range of optional activities. These include boating, basketball, diving, circuit racing and parachuting, suggesting that Vice City and its surrounding world will support varied recreation alongside the campaign. Rockstar has also released new images of the protagonists and other characters, intensifying discussion of the game’s presentation ahead of its scheduled 19 November launch.
One report says that the extended look has also prompted attention towards a reported relationship system involving Jason and Lucia. Citing IGN, it says players may be able to develop or weaken their connection through activities and responses outside missions, and that the inactive partner can be called on for help. Rockstar’s showcase itself chiefly demonstrates their shared action scenes rather than explaining those systems in detail, so the exact scope of any relationship mechanics remains to be clarified by the developer.
Where outlets differ
Source 1 concentrates on what can be directly seen in the showcase: combat, switching or contrasting roles for Jason and Lucia, menus, activities and the PlayStation 5 capture notice. Source 2 gives greater weight to online reaction to Lucia and another briefly seen character, and adds reported relationship-mechanic details attributed to IGN, alongside speculation that console performance may be limited to 30 frames per second. The latter performance point is not confirmed in Source 1.
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