Summary
From singlehandedly inventing the 3D open-world sandbox to pushing the limits of what players can expect in terms of realism and storytelling,Grand Theft Autohas always been one of the great video game innovators. While there have been a few leaked details here and there about which technological leaps have been leveraged to bringGrand Theft Auto 6to life, there’s still plenty of room for speculation (with a little logical deduction) about how Rockstar can raise the bar this time around.
While certain elements like graphical fidelity and NPC AI tend to see improvements between each game (with a few exceptions), fans have been speculating as to what kind of big-ticket features will differentiateGTA 6from previous entries and dominate the conversation in gaming communities for years to come. While fans fully expect Rockstar to knock it out of the park, including even one of these wishlist items would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the next era in video games has arrived.
Interactable Environments & Enterable Buildings
Fulfilling The Great Open World Dream
This one has been the dream for many a video game player, at least sinceGrand Theft Auto 3way back in 2001. Whilesome games have included explorable interiors, no game of the same caliber asGrand Theft Autohas ever managed more than 30 or 40%. With new technological leaps in AI, faster loading times, and memory, buildings with accessible entrances might be the norm in Leonida.Red Dead Redemption 2showcased this potential, albeit on a much more scaled-down level. Given the fidelity of each interior seen in the first trailer, an entirely enterable cityscape, complete with highly interactable environments, would change the gaming landscape forever.
There have been examples of explorable interiors throughoutGTA, of course.GTA: San Andreasgave players the chance to work out in a gym or grab a burger at Burger Shot.GTA: Onlineallowed players to hold up stores and crash casinos, andGTA 4introduced social activities, such as live stand-up shows and bowling. However, having an explorable space behind almost every door (malls, clubs, restaurants, apartments, mansions, offices) with content that could be explored and meaningfully interacted with beyond the usual destruction and robbery would push immersion in video games to the next level (and make the inevitable destruction and robbery that much more thrilling).
NPC Depth & Interaction
Fleshing Out Bystanders With More Than Just Blood And Guts
Pedestrians inGrand Theft Automainly serve as empty background actors who occasionally bark quips at players. InGTA 5, these humanoids wander around aimlessly and try to look the part wherever they spawned in, but they are generally generic.Red Dead Redemption 2made strides in this regard, with NPC behavior guided by a logical and internally consistent narrative framework, asthese old-west NPCswill behave consistently within their given role, react to what they see, and remember the player character’s actions. Thanks to Rockstar’s new patented locomotion system, NPC animation inGrand Theft Auto 6is set to blow players away, but what about the other elements that make non-playable characters come to life?
While nobody expects Rockstar to go full-RPG with their NPCs by using dialogue trees, deeper interactivity, including some social options, would be a big step up having one D-pad button to communicate with a random passerby who despawns forever once the player turns the corner. Having certain NPCs react to the player by referencing things they have done (to them or during the story), along with spotting and responding to other variables like the characters' physical state, style, and gender, would make them seem like a more “fixed” part of the living world. Even more radically, certain NPCs could be permanently befriended (or bribed) into tagging along or roped into providing other helpful services throughout the game.
Dynamic Activities, Missions, & Random Encounters
Redefining What It Means To Offer “Non-Linear Gameplay”
Meeting strangers with bizarre personalities andenjoying diversionary side activitieshave been a part ofGrand Theft Auto’s DNA for a while now; these events are usually (if not always) dependent on the player rolling up to a map icon and entering a loading screen. Random encounters inGrand Theft Auto 6could instead happen dynamically and play out differently for every player and from different locations. For example, a pit stop at a gas pump store could turn into a non-scripted life-or-death boss battle with a family of giant alligators as they emerge from their bathroom lair. Attacking cat-calling workers at a building site might throw the player into a sniper hunt minigame, a timed destruction challenge, or an impromptu robbery of flippable construction materials.
Walking on the beach one day could lead to a dealing opportunity; another day, a volleyball game; another, a kidnapping mini-mission. These emergent encounters would be similar to the “switch” cutscenes that triggerwhen changing characters inGTA 5but would be much more involved, non-linear, and rewarding (in terms of money and unlockables). With a chance to trigger any number of memorable interactions, events, or fights from anywhere on the map, gameplay inGTA 6would be fluid and endlessly surprising. If chained together into emergent story branches with an overwhelming variety and non-linear completion options built in, these encounters could rival or even replace traditional missions.
Co-operative Multiplayer For The Story Campaign
Partners In Crime, On The Couch Or Online
Yes, split-screen couch co-op might seem like an “antiquated retro gaming throwback.” And yes,GTA: Onlineexists, and players have been able to take on co-op missions together, withsome excellent co-op missionsthat involve main characters from the single-player campaign. However,Grand Theft Autohas never included a way for friends to play together through the entirety of a single-player campaign. Seeing as the story ofGrand Theft Auto 6revolves around a “partners in crime” couple, this could be the perfect moment to introduce the feature and please many long-time fans looking to tear into the story with a buddy or loved one.
Although roleplay probably isn’t Rockstar’s main focus, the worlds they create are teaming with activities and set pieces that would make for great “quality time” activities, from grabbing a taco from Cluckin' Bell to a cathartic round of angry tennis. Although couch co-op is an old idea, some big modern games havebundled local co-op into their campaigns. Narrative-wise, it would make sense for Lucia and Jason to tag along with each other on missions. Those who want to play solo would have AI take over for their partner, but having a friend jump in on the fly to help out on missions or hang out (whether locally or online) would be incredible.
