Rockstar Games’ GTA 6 has received a major new extended trailer via Netflix, with this revealing much more about the upcoming game and what to expect.
With over a decade’s worth of hype behind it and anticipation built further across multiple delays, GTA 6 is set to arrive on 19 November as one of the biggest games of the decade. The latest trailer played into that hype, diving deeply into the journey of protagonists Lucia and Jason and everything they’ll get up to in the fictional US state of Leonida.
Here’s all the major highlights from the showcase, and everything new we learned.
GTA 6: everything new we learned via Netflix – quick link
Jason and Lucia are dual protagonists, and they don’t have to be in love
As previously announced, GTA 6 will have dual protagonists, Jason and Lucia. They are partners in crime and lovers, and the narrative will pair them frequently across various missions and in dialogue. The Netflix trailer confirmed one of these missions (and perhaps more than one) will take place within a drug den.
The new trailer also confirmed Lucia will be playable, and you’ll seemingly be able to switch between the game’s leads in the open world.
In further details reported by IGN after a trip to Rockstar HQ, we also learned you’ll be able to travel together with your partner, they’ll send you various texts, and you’ll be able to strengthen your shared bond by exploring the game’s city and taking part in various activities.
Notably, you will be able to decide what sort of romance Jason and Lucia have, and you can also ignore their bond entirely if you have no wish to build their romantic connection. Per IGN, romance is ‘completely optional and predominantly a roleplaying decision for players to make.’
The open world features multiple different styles and cultures
As you roam in GTA 6, you’ll be able to explore a ‘very big’ open world map filled with various precincts. As shared, these will be defined by the styles and cultures of individual areas, so you can expect a diverse landscape to explore. Some of this was shown off in the new Netflix trailer.
It was also recently confirmed that random events will happen as you explore, so you can expect that life in Leonida will be colourful, even when you’re just heading out to the hair salon or the local shops.
Other activities confirmed for this open world include playing pool, mini golf, kayaking, wrestling, parachute jumping, scuba diving, and perhaps most importantly, going to the zoo.
The wanted system returns
As expected, GTA 6 will feature its own updated version of the six-star ‘wanted’ system, where players will gain notoriety in the eyes of the police and eventually become the subject of a massive chase. Beyond details like car make and model, the improved reporting system also gives police clues as to what you’re wearing, which may need to change so you can go incognito.
Jason and Lucia must escape hotbed areas to cool down their profile, but also consider changing their appearance and vehicle. It appears getting away from the cops will also be more difficult in this game due to city density and smaller streets.
IGN reports that at higher wanted levels, you will need a high speed vehicle or clever tactics to get away – including incapacitating your opponents. Otherwise, you’re in for a swift arrest. It appears you will get marks on a dedicated Criminal Profile for this activity, but so far it’s unclear how this will impact gameplay.
Choice will be a key part of the action in GTA 6
As with most modern video games, choice will play a key part in your journey as Jason and Lucia. You’ll be able to choose your path in the open world and in various missions, with each having their own consequences, big and small.
As Rockstar told IGN, the game is built to be replayable, so we expect that certain decisions will change the game and its direction. That said, we do expect the overarching narrative to be relatively linear, given precedent in the franchise.
‘Though Rockstar often prioritises directed storytelling when specific plot beats need to be delivered, the studio has attempted as much as possible with GTA 6 to connect open-world actions to each of its characters’ identities and their stories,’ IGN says.
GTA 6 is clearly a game that’s been in development for over a decade
What was most striking in the newly-released Netflix trailer is just how good GTA 6 looks. Not every studio has the luxury of spending over a decade refining gameplay and visuals – and certainly, this isn’t something that is or should be normal. The time and effort put into this game’s world shines through in its open world gameplay.
Driving through Leonida, players will be able to see a lively and polished city filled with towering buildings, folks wandering, and all sorts of weird and wonderful circumstances. Character models look sharp and realistic. Locations are layered and diverse.
If the trailer revealed anything, it’s that GTA 6 is an impressive-looking game, and one that will hopefully live up to its style with plenty of substance.
We look forward to seeing more when GTA 6 launches for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on 19 November.
