It’s incredible that a single title can command the attention of the entire global gaming community in a year of some truly great releases, but GTA 6 is just that kind of a beast. It’s been a while since that gameplay showcase (sorry, premiere), and there’s been a lot of new stuff to talk about since then.
Of course, we’ve been keeping a very close eye on it all, watching out for things you might want to know if you’re thinking about splurging for a copy of your own. Well, we’ve put together a fresh new batch of details you’re going to want to keep in mind before you join Jason and Lucia in Leonidas City.
Let’s begin!
1. NPCs Aren’t Exactly Passive Anymore
A hands-on session from creator MikeShowSha that was hosted by Rockstar’s Rob Nelson has revealed that some NPCs aren’t going to be as pragmatic as their fellow citizens and run from a weapon you’re wielding. Instead, they’re going to come at you and try to disarm you, and we’re guessing that retaliating against them isn’t going to be ideal considering that you’re playing two criminals on the lam from the cops.
We can’t wait to see how this unfolds in situations where you’re already dealing with a lot, only to have an enthusiastic NPC trying to play the hero. We’re especially curious about how the game allows us to respond to such occurrences, and how those actions tie into the grander scheme of things in Leonidas.
2. NPCs Detailing
The same hands-on session that showed us NPCs playing the hero also brought another detail to light: their physical structure is going to actually matter in the world you’re exploring. The session saw a police officer on the heavier side run out of breath when he was chasing Jason, stopping to catch his breath.
This is a great addition as it balances out the effort we’re going to have to put in to keep our characters in shape, as we’re almost certain that the same rules are going to apply to us. That’s a layer of immersion we can’t wait to test out so we can find its limits and find creative ways to exploit them when we’re out exploring the world.
3. Steal NPC Accessories
Another detail that MikeShowSha’s time with the game has brought up is that you can knock accessories off an NPC and then pick them up and wear them. That’s one way to deal with anyone who gets in the way of your goals, although it’s a flex that might not fly in a city where there are cameras everywhere, and your actions might just make the evening news.
Still, it’s nice to see a new way to accessorize, even if the means to get there aren’t entirely honest. Well, Leonidas sounds like the kind of place where the laws are just guidelines anyway.
4. Don’t Flip Your Cars
Another creator from the session with Rob Nelson, Davy Jones, highlighted how the option to restore a car that you manage to turn upside down in GTA 5 isn’t on board in the sequel. That means you’re going to have to pay attention to the road, and make sure you’re in control of your wheels at all times.
Are we happy about not getting to drive like madmen on streets that look as good as they do in GTA 6? Perhaps. But are we pleased about the franchise upping the ante on its immersion and realism? That’s a resounding yes.
5. Damaged Vehicles Handle Worse
Davy Jones also pointed out another reason to try and keep all your wheels on the road: structural damage to your vehicle is going to affect how it handles. Damage to your engine or other crucial parts of a vehicle you’re operating is going to make its utility in whatever situation you’re facing take a serious drop.
Of course, we’re anticipating many such situations, as things look like they can get really intense in this one, and high-speed pursuits sometimes inevitably lead to collisions that are now something you have to keep track of in the heat of the moment. Well, we’re guessing ten and two isn’t bad advice at all in this case.
6. An Unorthodox Way To Build Your Own Garage
Davy Jones has also talked about a fence that can help you change the pink slips on stolen rides, allowing you to convert them into your own personal transport, presumably in exchange for cash or favors. It’s permanent, and we’re already thinking about how no sports car in Leonidas is going to be safe from our budding criminal enterprise.
It’s also a great way to let you craft a take on Jason and Lucia that feels entirely your own, allowing for some player expression which has always been at the core of any GTA experience. It’s nice that this one’s narratively aligned too.
7. Stash Your Cash Away
The cops in Leonidas have no chill, apparently, as Davy Jones has pointed out that any cash you’re carrying on you when you get arrested (which is probably going to happen a few times, let’s be honest) is going straight into the pockets of the cops who get you. He points out the value of banks and ATMs to counter these specific nuggets of ironic realism, letting you ensure that your crime sprees don’t cost you more than what you earn from them.
Or you know, you could be a good criminal and not get arrested in the first place.
8. No First-Person Mode At Launch
This might be a bit of a bummer to those of you looking to get up real close and personal with Leonidas City and its residents, but GTA 6 isn’t coming with a first-person mode at launch. That comes from Davy Jones once again, with Rob Nelson confirming it. However, that’s not to say that it’s a write-off, as both GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 eventually had them added in.
We’re still going to wait on an official confirmation, though.
9. Takedowns And Reputation System
For those of you with steadier trigger fingers than the rest, you’re going to want to know that shooting weak spots on enemies can incapacitate them without killing them if a firefight breaks out. That could be useful if you’re trying to maintain a low profile or perhaps repair your rep after a particularly nasty few hours of exploring the city.
We’re curious to see if those kills influence the game’s reputation system in any way, and whether law enforcement actually considers your efforts to preserve life if not the letter and spirit of the law.
10. Perform Air Tricks When Diving Into Water
ElRubius, another creator at the event, pointed us in the direction of a fun little addition that might not seem like much, but is greatly appreciated from an attention-to-detail perspective. You can perform a few flips and stylish jumps before you hit the water if you dive, letting you bring a touch of style to your take on Jason and Lucia.
With water physics that look as good as they do in previews, we can’t wait to let off a little steam between missions and perform a few stunts to please the crowds.
11. Replenish Your Focus
The Focus meter looks set to play an important role in GTA 6, particularly when preparing for combat. ElRubius mentions that certain consumables can replenish Focus, giving players another resource to actively manage before heading into a dangerous situation. It’s another small but meaningful system that adds to the game’s immersion without existing purely for realism. More importantly, it has an obvious gameplay function, which is exactly the kind of detail Rockstar tends to excel at.
12. More Elaborate Conversations With NPCs
Games have certainly increased the scope of how NPCs and players are able to interact in recent times, and GTA 6 might just take that up a notch. ElRubius has put the spotlight on a contextual menu that’s going to have substantially more recorded dialogue, which means exponentially more possibilities as you make your way around the world.
We’ve spoken about how life in Leonidas might unfold quite naturally to make GTA 6 a truly great title, and we’re suspecting that this little detail is going to be a major part of that.
13. No Safehouse Transitions
Many in-game safehouses are often placed between loading screens, making them feel disconnected from the world they’re protecting you from. That might make sense practically, but it doesn’t do a game that’s trying to be as realistic and immersive as it can do any favors.
Well, your safehouses in GTA 6 exist within the world, and you can even see that life goes on outside even as you’re lying low in one of them. You can also decorate while you’re there, and enter and exit it through the front door, without a loading screen putting you back into the open world.
14. The Crowd Density Matches The Trailers
ElRubius’s account of his time with the game also confirmed that the crowd density on display in Leonidas isn’t just for show in GTA 6’s promotions, but is definitely a part of the final build. That’s definitely music to our ears, as we loathe large crowds in the real world, but sing a different tune when it comes to our video games.
15. Your Weapons Affect How You’re Treated
If you’re the type who displays your weapons with pride, you’re going to find that your social standing’s a tad too diminished for your liking in GTA 6. Nelson confirmed that the game pays attention to whether your weapons are concealed, holstered, or actively in your hand waiting to be used.
That’s in service of making crowds respond to each state, with Games Radar+ reporting on how a weapon slung across your shoulder is still more tolerable than one that you’re actively wielding, with crowds reacting appropriately to the threat you present.
And that’s a wrap on this one, although we get the feeling we might be back again as more information about the year’s biggest gaming release crops up. Until then, keep counting the days with us until we’re back here to talk more about this one.
