Grand Theft Auto 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on Thursday bringing behavior tracking to the series.
Crime Tiers Restrict Early GTA 6 Actions
Protagonists Jason and Lucia begin their journey as small-time criminals with basic abilities. They hotwire low-end vehicles and pick locks.
Players cannot immediately access supercars. They also cannot walk into high-end jewelry stores or bust into major banks.
“Narratively, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for them to go out and cause as much carnage and make as much noise as they can,” said Rob Nelson. Nelson described the co-protagonists as a “younger couple with their backs against the wall.”
When licensing head Jennifer Kolbe suggested Rockstar could have made GTA 5.5 and done it faster, Nelson said, “You have to take big swings. It can’t be just more of the same.”
BREAKING: Here is The Guardian’s full exclusive GTA 6 story from their Saturday edition. It was literally just sitting there on the app, I checked it out of curiosity. Can’t believe no one else noticed. pic.twitter.com/AwW5ysh9A8
New Systems Track Criminal Profiles
Rockstar implemented a new Criminal Profile system. It tracks how violently or maliciously players commit crimes, shifting based on consistent behavior.
Rockstar also added mechanisms that encourage empathy for the first time. Players now have the freedom to be kind.
“Crime is a fundamental part of GTA – at least up until now, it has been,” Nelson told The Guardian. “We’re trying to make sure we’re not punishing people for playing the game they are used to.”
“Your actions will have some effect on how the game plays out,” Nelson said.
“I would say that it’s a product of the story we’re trying to tell. We’ve tried for the first time in a GTA to provide mechanisms that encourage it, for those who want to,” Nelson said.
Grand Theft Auto VI is now only one week away! Thank you to everyone in the community for your incredible support. There’s still time to pre-order and pre-load so you’re ready on launch day. Code-in-box versions are also available now for pick-up at retailers worldwide. pic.twitter.com/au3uAf6p5w
Police Track Physical Characteristics
Police track a character’s physical characteristics, clothing, vehicle make and color, and surveillance camera data. Open-world interactions draw heavily on these enhanced law enforcement responses.
Certain areas of the map are temporarily marked in red when crimes happen. Returning to those areas triggers a renewed pursuit.
The relationship between Jason and Lucia functions as a system alongside criminal progression. Players text and call the pair when they are apart, take them on dates, and hold hands with a button.
Earlier coverage: Rockstar Games Set to Release Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19