Rockstar certainly knows how to keep us frothing at the mouth when it has a game coming out, and GTA 6 is taking that to new heights. It’s hard to believe that this one’s the fourth list of details about the game we’ve put out, and we suspect that it might not even be the last!
For those of you looking to get every possible bit of information you can before you accept that hefty launch price tag, there’s new information that you could find useful. For those of you with a copy of the game waiting for the pre-download windows to open, you’re still going to like what you see here, so let’s jump right in.
1. Carry Your Tunes With You
The radio has always been a fun part of GTA, thanks to Rockstar’s penchant for satire that’s blended in with some well-curated songs to keep things moving along. Well, we finally get to use our phones to keep listening to music that was blaring in the car in GTA 6. Yes, both protagonists can use headphones and earbuds while using their phones and exploring on foot.
It’s a nice touch that could allow the developers to sneak in even more of their tongue-in-cheek takes on the real world while also letting us have more control over our listening experiences. It’s also quite immersive when a smartphone behaves like a smartphone too.
2. On-Demand Podcasts
If you’re the type who prefers to be a bit more productive on the road or perhaps on a walk, Rockstar has confirmed that on-demand podcasts are going to be a part of the audio selection on offer.
Of course, what it means by a series of them is up for debate, but it isn’t too far-fetched to imagine a nice selection of subjects and perhaps some well-written humor and world commentary woven into it all. We’d even guess that some of them might hide clues to missions or points of interest that you’d miss if you’re not paying attention.
3. The First Six Radio Stations Now Have Names
Rockstar’s music page has listed Cocoteo FM, AfroBank FM, The Chamber 106.6, Flash FM, Dirty South Classics, and Back Country Radio as options to cater to a wide range of tastes spanning different genres.
We’re thinking that six might not be the limit of the studio’s ambitions in this area, though, and the final number of radio stations you can tune into might be higher than that. By how much is anybody’s guess at this point, but we’re choosing to be optimistic about the chance for great music to jam out to while we’re out committing crimes.
4. A Popular Cast Of Radio Presenters
Rockstar isn’t just bringing the work of talented artists to its in-game airwaves, but is bringing some of the artists themselves to the studio. Bad Bunny and RaiNoa are going to be hosting Cocoteo FM, while Lana Del Rey and Morgan Wallen are going to take you through Back Country’s playlists.
Other names include Robyn, Alex Consani, Kerry King, and Tom Araya, per Rolling Stone’s coverage of the casting information provided to it, and we’re hoping to hear other familiar voices join the fun.
5. A Lot of Homework
We found it quite fascinating that Rockstar has attempted to look at crime from two vastly different perspectives, and perhaps the most important ones in the equation. It recently told LOVE Magazine that it travelled with both law enforcement officials and gang members to get a feel for what made those contrasting sides tick, and the ways in which they interact.
That’s a lot of homework, and possibly more than a few ride-alongs that involved a lot of trepidation. We must respect the commitment, and we hope it all pays off in the final release.
6. Jason and Lucia Aren’t Perfect
That same interview with LOVE Magazine points to Jason and Lucia being “vulnerable, tough, (and) flawed, pointing to a narrative in which they’re nuanced individuals who don’t necessarily agree on everything despite being partners in crime.
They’re reportedly a combination of vulnerability and toughness, which makes sense considering they’re former criminals who continue to be on law enforcement’s radar in a life that’s pretty dangerous. Well, the risk is why the rewards are as delightful as they are, and the possibility of nuanced character interactions and development arcs is a lovely bonus.
7. Leonidas Has A Thriving Political Scene
LOVE Magazine quoted Robert Humphries, one of the game’s lead writers and the Senior Vice President of Narrative, who highlighted how Leonidas is going to feature signs of its local politics through election signs, campaign robocalls, radio discussions, political ads, and even some juicy controversies to sink our teeth into.
We’re never going to deny loving a little gossip, and we’re hoping it can even lead to some interesting quest chains where you’re helping one faction or another, or perhaps even playing both sides for your own benefit. One can always hope!
8. A “More Modest” American Dream
If you’ve wondered why Jason and Lucia might be choosing to return to the criminal world after incarceration, Humphries was quoted once again, and it was his examinations of Leonidas’s economy that were the subject of focus this time around.
It ties quite well into the personalizations of Jason and Lucia, and Leonidas is apparently going to reflect real-world problems like rising real estate costs and a lack of financial security for the average man. Having layers like that for our protagonists to interact with and perhaps even allow the narrative to lend some framing to the whole thing would be very welcome if it all turns out as we expect.
9. An Interesting Approach Behind The Scenes
You’re probably curious about how the game’s been made and perhaps even why it took so long to make it to this point. Well, LOVE Magazine’s interview coverage indicates Humphries elaborating on how sections of the game are developed with eight-week milestones in mind.
A round of evaluations then follows, accompanied by a shift in priorities for the next eight weeks based on how things shake out. Rob Nelson said it was about taking “one obsessive day at a time”, which could explain the long wait and the potential increase in quality and quantity that this one’s poised to bring to the franchise.
10. The Devil In The Details
Bloomberg’s coverage of the game points to a lot of debate about including real-world elements like manually purchasing groceries for your home, along with following recipes to cook your food. Rockstar was on the fence about balancing that kind of realism against the entertainment value it would bring, but we think it’s done pretty well from what we’re seeing.
Of course, a final verdict is going to have to wait till we’ve actually tried all of it out for ourselves, but we’re willing to concede the benefit of the doubt in this case.
11. The Potential for Distractions
For all you open-world fans out there, Rockstar’s Phil Hooker spent some hands-on time with the game, and it looks like that gameplay reveal was representative of what life in Leonidas looks like.
Hooker’s efforts to follow the road to a story mission turning into a two-hour diversion that took the session in an entirely different direction is some very familiar music to the ears of anybody who has done the exact same thing in GTA 5. The chaos is certainly back, and might be even more potent than it’s ever been this time around.
12. Constant Design Improvements
Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier’s coverage of the game also included conversations with Rockstar, which brought up an interesting development tidbit. There were revisions as late as the “last few months” that changed things in Leonidas.
That’s helped, but that long delay from last year puts it into perspective, and we’re saying the same thing now as we said then. We’re glad the studio took the time to cook and create a title that hopefully realizes a vision that’s clearly brimming with ambition and great ideas.
13. Take-Two’s CEO Didn’t Take The Second Delay Very Well Initially
Schreier’s report also elaborated on how Take-Two’s Strauss Zelnick, who’s quite vocal about things in the industry, reacted with disbelief to the news about a second delay. He was apparently hoping that Jennifer Kolbe, head of Rockstar’s publishing division and the bearer of the bad news, was joking.
He ultimately accepted the delay, though, and we’re glad he did. We don’t ever want another Cyberpunk-like situation on our hands again if we can help it.
14. Rockstar Shut Down Those Rumors About The Budget
The same Bloomberg report that brought Zelnick’s reaction to GTA 6’s second delay also highlighted Kolbe’s dismissal of rumors that the game cost $1.5 billion to make. While she didn’t reveal any concrete numbers, it’s still interesting to know that those rumors are nothing more than just rumors.
Of course, that only makes us all the more interested in how much was actually spent on bringing this one to life.
15. The Foundation For the Future
GTA 6 might have taken ages to make, but Bloomberg’s coverage of the game has also pointed to how that long development process might have been an investment in speedier pipelines for subsequent titles.
There is an expectation that things could move more quickly over at Rockstar thanks to the engine, tools, and production foundations that have been laid down for GTA 6. However, that’s still speculation at this point, but we’re hoping it helps speed up those eight-week milestones by enough of a margin for it to matter.
And there you have it. It’s been interesting to look behind the curtain at both Leonidas and how Rockstar has been working behind the scenes to give us a game worth remembering. It isn’t too far away now, and we hope we get to see you at another one of these lists while we wait.
