Grand Theft Auto is nothing without crime. Even the title of the franchise is a criminal act. For almost thirty years, it has been built on the concept of running around, stealing cars, shooting people, and generally engaging in all manner of nefarious and malicious acts, and we love it.
But in Grand Theft Auto 6, things are changing. In a recent interview, Rockstar’s Rob Nelson sat down to talk about the endless possibilities of the upcoming titles, and naturally, that included how the concept of a crime spree works in the game.
SPOILER: It’s very different this time.
GTA 6 Will Let You Be a Good Guy (or Girl)
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Rob Nelson and Jennifer Kolbe gave insight into the open-world action title, which is releasing worldwide in just a few days. It’s the most highly anticipated game ever made, and it promises to offer unparalleled freedom.
For many, that means no-holds-barred crime sprees, complete with cop chases, unabated slaughter, and robberies aplenty.
But in Grand Theft Auto 6, that’s not the only way forward. We’re not psychopaths with a penchant for terrorizing innocent folk this time.
Rockstar Games’ Rob Nelson explained that crime is still very much a core pillar of GTA 6:
Crime is a fundemental part of GTA – at least, up until now, it has been. We’re trying to make sure we’re not punishing people for playing the game they are used to…
But your actions will have some effect on how the game plays out.
When The Guardian asked if there would be a measure of empathy in GTA 6, effectively facilitating the potential to be the good guy, Nelson said:
I would say so.
I would say that it’s a product of the story we’re trying to tell. We’ve tried for the first time in a GTA to provide mechanisms that encourage it, for those who want to.
Thanks to GameRoll on socials for the heads up.
Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 tussled with the idea, the latter much more so. In Grand Theft Auto 5 (2013), you could participate in dynamic, spontaneous missions that would see you presented with a sidewalk robbery or a car theft. You then had the choice to help the victim or potentially eliminate the robber and take the loot for yourself.
That was the toe dip.
In Red Dead Redemption 2, you had a full-blown karma mechanic that determined the game’s ending. If you were a nice guy and helped folks, refused to participate in mindless slaughter, and spoke positively throughout, you’d get a ‘better’ ending, plus people would generally treat you differently as the game unraveled.
Be the bad guy, and your ending soured, people were inherently untrusting, and you’d earn yourself a reputation for being a cutthroat.
It sounds like that will be a concept in GTA 6. We already know there’s a ‘criminal profile’ mechanic that determines your ‘ranking’ as a wrongdoer based on how you commit your crimes, and we also know that dynamic interactions, like the ones found in GTA 5, are coming back.
Do you think you’d play the good guy (or girl) in GTA 6? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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