Rockstar has lastly confirmed what all of us knew in our hearts: a new Grand Theft Auto is on the way in which. “We’re happy to verify that energetic improvement for the subsequent entry within the Grand Theft Auto collection is effectively underway,” teased Rockstar in a brand new neighborhood replace. That was it: no different particulars or dates. We all know it is occurring, then, however in any other case we’re free to invest on what GTA 6 may—maybe ought to—be.
The place will GTA 6 be set? What period will it happen in? Will its on-line mode be adequate to help the hundreds of thousands of gamers it is positive to draw? We do not know, however we are able to positive let you know what we wish.
GTA On-line nevertheless it’s good
Phil Savage, UK Editor-in-Chief: As a lot as I’ve loved GTA On-line over time, I can not assist however surprise what it might be if it wasn’t a sizzling mess. The multiplayer department of GTA 5 clearly outperformed Rockstar’s preliminary ambitions, and it reveals each time you log in. It is in the way in which varied actions are tied to completely totally different menus relying on whether or not they had been envisioned again when the sport was first made or bolted on later. It is in the way in which there is no consistency to the reward buildings of assorted releases, leaving older content material feeling unrewarding and undesirable. It is in the way in which teams are pressured into bizarre ad-hoc companies, which must be swapped out over the course of the session if your folks additionally need to be rewarded for his or her enterprise investments. It is in the way in which each session is assured to start out with at the very least half-hour of making an attempt to affix up with mates on the identical map.
GTA 6 provides an actual likelihood for Rockstar to construct a web-based mode that’s deserving of GTA On-line’s immense reputation; to construct programs and buildings that may help an evolving and increasing world. GTA On-line may have been unimaginable, however as a substitute it was a factor that allowed for genuinely nice moments round mountains of bullshit. If Rockstar can get the underlying infrastructure proper, GTA 6’s multiplayer might be unstoppable.
Higher roleplaying
Morgan Park, Workers Author: I received an actual kick out of Purple Useless Redemption 2’s sometimes-annoying dedication to treating Arthur Morgan like an precise human on the earth. Pulling left set off to bark a number of primary greetings at people getting on with their day was an efficient strategy to give a Rockstar protagonist some verbs apart from run and shoot, even when my Arthur did appear to belt out the identical model of “heeeey miSTER” a number of too many occasions. I beloved finishing Arthur’s little chores throughout lengthy horse rides, like crafting bullets or sprucing his revolvers. Grand Theft Auto may use extra world interplay like this, and if the explosive reputation of GTA On-line’s roleplay servers are any indication, gamers are into mixing mundane duties into their chaos homicide video games.
To not begrudge the occasional 5 star police escape, however I would love extra non-violent actions in no matter coastal metropolis we’re headed to subsequent. Rockstar has sort of already discovered this in GTA On-line. One in every of its greatest appeals is just curating a wardrobe or accumulating custom-made vehicles. Final 12 months Rockstar added an official automobile meet mode to the sport (that gamers ended up farming for XP, oops). I had numerous enjoyable goofing round with GTA5’s triathlons and golf programs, nevertheless it’d be even cooler if issues like work and leisure had been built-in into a correct life sim in GTA6.
Much less open world
Andy Chalk, US Information Lead: The hallmark of Grand Theft Auto is its huge, teeming open worlds. They usually’re nice! However they’re additionally extremely distracting. I’ve by no means completed a GTA sport, as a result of I inevitably find yourself farting round with bowling or driving an ambulance or no matter, and after dozens of hours of that I lose curiosity in the entire thing—I do not know what I am speculated to be doing and I can not be bothered to search out out as a result of I’ve received 150 hours sunk into the sport, I’ve completed mainly nothing, and man, I’m executed.
To be clear, that is 100% a “me” downside. I really like big, sprawling sport worlds crammed with issues to do, however I can not be trusted with them unsupervised. I would like light steerage—a bit nudge every now and then to remind me that, hey, that is enjoyable however there’s shit to be doing and you want to get doing it. The Witcher 3 might be the most effective instance of this that I’ve encountered: I walked The Path freely, however future was at all times there, dancing in my peripheral imaginative and prescient. Even after I was climbing mountains or roaming via forests simply to see what was on the market, I used to be engaged and on observe. It had a way of goal, I assume, that I’ve by no means felt in a GTA sport, and truthfully I do not maintain out a lot hope for GTA6 making it occur. But when it might—if Rockstar is keen to shrink the dimensions of the sport in favor of a deeper, extra targeted (and, sure, if we need to use that phrase, linear) expertise—then you may rely me in.
A robust feminine protagonist
Mollie Taylor, Trainee Information Author: Years of enjoying GTA On-line as a feminine character has made me need a fully-fledged, well-written feminine protagonist to be within the subsequent mainline sport so dangerous. Nothing brings me extra pleasure than smacking the shit out of men as my biker gal OC, and I feel a badass girl could be the proper addition to GTA 6. In an excellent world, I would wish to see the ensemble forged pattern proceed, with a powerful, sensible girl who completely terrifies the opposite playable characters.
I’ve seen folks declare {that a} feminine protagonist would not really feel proper or slot in with the universe that Rockstar’s constructed, however I feel that is simply plain bullshit. Ladies aren’t excluded from being criminals or gang leaders, and I feel it is time Rockstar mirrored that. Earlier rumours appear pretty aligned with what I would like, too—an ensemble forged with a feminine protagonist taking up the function of a hacker. Sounds fairly rattling rad to me. Now gimme.
Lauren Morton, Affiliate Editor: There’s going to be a girl within the lead forged. I am not asking—I am telling. Having a distinguished girl is fairly baseline at this level, even for large builders shifting at Rockstar’s tempo. Tim has jogged my memory that I’ve but to make amends for Ozark, which I do know we aren’t all looking ahead to Jason Bateman enjoying the identical uptight stick within the mud he will get typecast as. I am there for the kickass, flawed-but-awesome girls of crime, and I am going to flip up for GTA doing it too.
A Euphoria-like breakthrough for NPC interactions
Wealthy Stanton, Information Editor: The up to date incarnation of Grand Theft Auto started manner again when with GTA4, which was a quantum leap forwards from GTA: San Andreas as a technical achievement. There are all kinds of issues to flag however Rockstar North went large on the third occasion physics expertise Euphoria, and made the world’s NPCs react way more ‘realistically’ to no matter was happening. I nonetheless get a slight thrill after I drive slowly close to pedestrians they usually put their palms on the bonnet (and, sure, generally flooring it and cackle.)
I feel Grand Theft Auto 6 has to have an identical leap in how we take into consideration NPCs as a result of, frankly, Rockstar’s are nonetheless the most effective. The present state-of-the-art in video video games remains to be filled with repetition, traces which might be inappropriate for the context, and tonal deafness to the world’s environment and your character’s actions. These may be daft and humorous and laugh-out-loud, positive, however the subsequent step from this needs to be coping with terribly delicate judgments about what NPCs ought to say and when, and the way they need to act round a given participant.
I do not suppose it is exaggerating to say that NPCs are one of many world’s most necessary options: Whether or not you are eavesdropping on a chat, mowing down a crowd, or simply standing at a crossing watching the world go by. A lot of the participant’s enjoyment of something comes from how the NPCs react and what they are saying. The extra delicate, the extra contextualised, even the extra long-term these reactions may be—the extra magical it should all appear.
For me Grand Theft Auto 6 has to have parts to it that no different sport is even fascinated by trying. As a result of Rockstar North has set the bar for therefore lengthy, and should proceed to. Making a leap in NPC expertise is likely one of the methods I would like to see the studio go.
Extra customization in my bazillion greenback condominium
Lauren Morton, Affiliate Editor: I’m a easy girl. I like constructing issues. I construct issues in The Sims. I construct issues in Valheim. I take part in fight to the extent required to unlock bits, bobs, and trophies to stuff into my designated house. Each GTA On-line and Purple Useless On-line give gamers very constrained management over their house within the type of themes you should buy and apply to the properties you personal. If we’re dreaming up the most important and finest GTA 6, I would like no matter its on-line facet winds up being (and hey, singleplayer too) to present me management over designing and fussing with properties. I need to know the ache Mollie felt when she bought a house in FF14.
A extra welcoming on-line expertise
Harry Shepherd, Guides Editor: As a long-time GTA On-line-liker, Phil highlights the primary flaws of the present multiplayer providing, nevertheless it’s price emphasising simply how unapproachable it’s for newcomers. I am extra of a singleplayer particular person usually, as I used to be when GTA 5 got here out. I inhaled Trevor and co’s journey in 2013 and put it down when the credit rolled. I beloved it, so I haven’t got hundreds extra options for the story mode past: extra of that please.
Since then I have been effectively conscious of how profitable GTA On-line is and the good occasions folks have with it, so I’ve re-downloaded the sport a number of occasions to attempt it myself. Every time I am postpone with GTA On-line’s mess of menus, irritating gamers trolling me, and only a normal lack of an thought of what to do subsequent. With no thought of how any of that may be addressed, I simply hope GTA 6 On-line will likely be friendlier to new gamers at each stage of its life.
Depart America behind
Fraser Brown, On-line Editor: Except for the 1997 GTA growth, London 1969, Rockstar’s not proven a lot curiosity on the earth past America, particularly its facsimiles of New York and Los Angeles. I’ve at all times been nice with this as a result of these aren’t actually American cities; they’re parodies concocted by Brits, with insights and gags which might be a lot simpler to make whenever you’re an outsider. However in a medium that nearly completely cares concerning the US and Japan, I am determined to see extra of the world.
I can get my repair with Murderer’s Creed, I assume, nevertheless it looks like the one time we get to journey to those locations is that if we additionally journey again in time. Because of this I performed 30 hours of Watch Canines Legion, a sport I feel is totally garbage. I may hand around in London, and boy was {that a} novelty. And London is the worst! Visiting London is a punishment. However after a lot time spent within the States it was a breath of recent air. Even higher, although, was the chance to discover Edinburgh in Forza Horizon 4, the very metropolis Rockstar North relies in.
Now, a parody of Edinburgh could be a horrible setting for a GTA. It is a dinky little metropolis with horrible roads and much too many college students, and many of the crimes are most likely wealthy folks committing fraud. However 45 minutes away on the opposite facet of Scotland we have Glasgow, as soon as the knife crime capital of Europe. We’re very proud. Not a lot gun crime in Scotland, although, which may be an issue. However does anybody actually play GTA as a result of they suppose the taking pictures is sweet? As a result of it ain’t. Think about GTA On-line however everybody’s simply received large knives. That is an MMO I can get behind.
Actually, although, I am going to take anyplace exterior of America.
Wes Fenlon, Senior Editor: That is the precise level I needed to make, Fraser. I’ve gotten my fill of off-brand New York and Los Angeles and would like to see one thing apart from the identical drained pastiche of American tradition as soon as once more. I really feel like there’s solely a few 1% likelihood of it occurring, although—Rockstar most likely would not have the cultural perception or inclination to sort out a metropolis like Hong Kong or Seoul. May we see a GTA Paris or Berlin? In some way that simply appears improper.
If GTA needs to be set in America, at the very least journey again in time to the ’60s or ’70s. The vehicles will likely be cooler and we cannot have to fret about our rattling cell telephones ringing each 10 seconds. Once more, although, I do not see it occurring. Absolutely the dumpster hearth that’s the US in 2022 might be irresistible. The political discuss radio station goes to be bleak.
A cheat code that makes all of the vehicles fly round and crash and stuff
Tyler Wilde, Govt Editor: The correct strategy to play GTA is to blow via the intro mission as quick as you may, enter a bunch of cheat codes, after which launch a knock-off Bugatti into restricted airspace whereas ignoring something to do with the story forevermore. I am positive GTA 6 can have cheat codes, as a result of all of them do, so it most likely is not a request that wanted making. I simply needed it on the file.
Precise mod help
Chris Livingston, Options Producer: Modding has at all times been an enormous a part of GTA, however the hoops modders have to leap via to create them and the issue gamers must get them working is weird to me, when a lot of that might be made simpler with some correct mod help. Once I tune into Twitch and have a look at the highest GTA On-line streams, they’re at all times closely modded roleplay servers. Gamers and viewers love them, so why not help them with a pleasant suite of modding instruments? Rockstar tolerates mods (Take-Two, not a lot) however tolerance is not the identical factor as true help. I would like to see a change of their philosophy in the case of mods when the subsequent GTA launches.
Let me be a corrupt cop
Tim Clark, Model Director: First, let me echo Mollie’s name for a playabable woman. I’ve already bored my colleagues in Slack with my love of Ozark (regardless of its utter ridiculousness), and it overflows with potential archetypes to riff off. Darlene Snell the hillbilly drug queenpin, Ruth the plucky legal savant, and Wendy Byrde the soccer mother turned historical past’s best televisual monster. And that is only one present for Rockstar’s cultural magpies to thieve from. Actually, assuming we get one other trio of participant characters, it is going to be ridiculous in the event that they’re all dudes once more.
That apart, I feel a superb twist could be if one of many characters can also be a cop. Massively corrupt, clearly—stealing medication, finishing up extra-judicial killings, and usually being a lazy piece of shit. Once more, fiction overflows with juicy reference factors, from The Defend to Line of Obligation, relying on which facet of the pond you are sat. Location-wise I am not too fussed, and within the absence of a standout choice, I hope they go along with a number of cities à la San Andreas. My suspicion is that they’ll choose Trump heartland for the ripe satirical materials. The best threat, apart from collection writing overseer Dan Houser leaving, goes to be that the world is arguably past satire in 2022.
