New GTA 6 previews from US press confirm an affinity mechanic between Jason and Lucia, a reworked honour system called Criminal Profile, and other gameplay details not shown in the Netflix preview.
Affinity mechanic and grounded world
IGN’s preview describes a gameplay slice demoed by Rockstar’s co-studio head Rob Nelson. The affinity mechanic lets players strengthen Jason and Lucia’s relationship as they commit crimes together. While it has no gameplay benefits, it may affect the story or cut scenes, potentially leading to multiple endings depending on whether players nurture a romantic relationship or keep them as work partners.
‘They will remain partners in crime. You will always have the benefit of working together and having each other’s back – whether they’re romantically close or not doesn’t change that,’ explains Nelson. ‘They will still work together. It’s really about what you want for them, their story, and how it plays out. Whether you’ve nurtured the relationship or not will definitely have a bearing on how their story plays out.’
GTA 6 also aims to make players feel less overpowered than in previous entries. Citizens may fight back if attacked, and players can taunt or threaten people with a holstered weapon by pressing the aim button, borrowing from Red Dead Redemption 2.
Criminal Profile and carjacking changes
‘I think in previous GTA games you were a bit all-powerful. You were the only one with an invisible arsenal hidden away. Apart from the police, everyone would run in terror from you if you started acting out. This world in GTA 6 is not like that,’ explains Nelson.
A reworked version of Red Dead Redemption 2’s honour system, called Criminal Profile, changes your reputation based on interactions with the world. Small crimes like littering can affect it, while shooting in self-defence impacts it less than unprovoked violence.
Carjacking will require more effort than a simple button press. Some cars demand specific tools, such as a key cloner for bypassing locks, meaning some vehicles will be inaccessible until players progress further.
Map size and role-playing appeal
The New York Times confirms GTA 6’s map will be three times larger than Red Dead Redemption 2’s. The game also appeals to role-playing enthusiasts, with activities like checking a fridge for a drink or watching TV.
‘I hope that there will be people that want to get up, have a cup of coffee, shower, get dressed, go out for a little exercise,’ says Nelson, noting his own playthrough exceeded 80 hours, covering the main story and optional side activities.
Rockstar built non-playable characters without procedural generation, boasting over 600,000 unique animations – double the amount in Red Dead Redemption 2. YouTuber TGG plans multiple deep dive videos covering the Criminal Profile system, new Wanted level mechanics, and driving compared to GTA 5.
