It should come as no surprise that after months, if not years, of rumours and leaks, that Grand Theft Auto 6 really is happening. A decade after GTA V first released on console, Rockstar Games has finally confirmed it will be premiering the trailer for its highly anticipated sequel in December, just in time for the companys 25th anniversary.
Given the accolades awarded to GTA V, having sold more than 185 million copies across three console generations, a new GTA is a big deal. Not just for the game itself and the countless hours were all likely to lose to it, but because Rockstar has such a high bar of quality that it sets a new standard for the industry.
We dont know how much of GTA 6 well get to see next month, though its hardly surprising that itll continue the series cycle of climbing your way up the criminal underworld while stealing cars and fleeing from the cops. But where else could it go from there? Heres six things wed like to see the series do next.
Sure, the appeal of GTA is the freedom to explore a huge open world made up with diverse terrain and neighbourhoods. On that, Vs Los Santos is probably Rockstars largest and greatest accomplishment. But rather than trying to top that, what if GTA 6 reined in the overall square feet in favour of something with more depth?
Theres an opportunity for a denser and more detailed environment, something a little more like the Yakuza / Like A Dragon series. You can grow familiar with the environments and denizens populating it. There could be a lot more interior locations as well, rather than just a lot of buildings that are little more than set dressing to drive past.
This may be unlikely, given the demands for any sequel to be bigger than the one before it. And to be fair, a game reliant on car chases and air travel works best with more space to play in. Still, we wouldnt rule this possibility out if reports are true that GTA 6 will be returning to Vice City, which is one of the smallest maps in the series.
Critics had already called out some of GTA Vs juvenile tone back when it first released. A decade later, its clear a lot of it hasnt aged too well. You might argue that bleak, nihilistic no-holds-barred satire of America has been an integral part of the series identity (with the exception of a 60s era mission pack set in London released for the very first game). But unless youve been in an underground bunker all this time, a lot has changed. How do you satirise the world, and America especially, when the real world itself is beyond satire?
Rockstar is definitely capable of more thoughtful and mature narratives when going by the Red Dead Redemption series. Even Michaels arc in GTA V had depth as a retired thief going through a mid-life crisis. But we can surely all agree the series misogynistic undercurrent has no place today. Thats not to say the next game shouldnt have strip clubs, because this is after all an adult game dealing with the murky criminal underworld. But can it find something interesting to say about sex work that isnt just crude titilation?
If GTA 6 follows its predecessor and gives us multiple protagonists, it should surely be a given that one of these should be a woman. But even if it goes back to one protagonist for a more focused narrative, why not be a woman?
Just looking at television in recent years, weve had excellent portrayals of powerful, dangerous, complicated, compelling female characters caught on both sides of the law, such as Killing Eve, Orange is the New Black and Yellowjackets. Theres no reason why GTA 6 couldnt also raise this bar in games, instead of continuing to fall back on tropes from films from decades past.
Not only would it add a new perspective and feel to a usually testosterone environment, but it might also open up new ways of thinking about how we interact with GTA 6 that isnt just macho shooting and blowing things up.
GTA V gets a lot of praise for how reactive its non-player characters (NPCs) are, sometimes giving the impression they have their own lives even if you werent there. Theres definitely room to expand on this. Instead of just one button where youd basically just shout at or harass passersby, it would be great if GTA 6 adopted Red Dead Redemption 2s system where you have different interactions to choose from that arent just misanthropic by default.
We dont expect this to suddenly be a wholesome game. But look, lifes hard, even for gangsters. If youve already got problems with the law, it doesnt mean the whole city has to be insufferable. Imagine playing in a city that you actually want to spend time in and not just turn into a dumpster fire for kicks. That said, we dont want to rule out some mischief, just like how GTA 4 let you shove pedestrians, wed still like the choice to be nice, and nasty.
A reason why GTA V has continued to keep selling so many copies years later is arguably down to GTA Online, and as such pretty much all updates have been geared towards this side as players continue coming back to Los Santos to build their own criminal empires and just let loose in the city as the ultimate digital playground.
Of course, its easy to forget that the online mode had many teething issues when it first launched and despite its success, its actually far from a user-friendly online game to get into, and we just mean the messy structure and systems rather than other players trying to mow or gun you down. We wont be surprised if an online mode is prioritised to be part of GTA 6s package from the get-go.
But while it might be sensible to have both solo and online integrated as one, we think its best to keep the two separate. Given Rockstars penchant for authored narratives, we cant imagine anything worse than having a memorabnle story beat interrupted by notifications of online events or other players getting in the way. Also, is it too radical to suggest not every game has to be always online?
Past GTAs have already had customisable vehicles, and the choice to customise character clothes and haircuts, but what about properties? Whether you start out in a squalid flea-bitten studio apartment or a penthouse by the beach, why not have the freedom to deck it out in a way to make it your own and not just a few prescribed themes?
Were not saying it has to be The Sims, but if youre going to have to shell out millions on a house, then heck, wed like the freedom to be our very own interior decorator. And no, we dont mean just decorating the walls with the blood and guts of our enemies.
Read more:
6 things we want to see in Grand Theft Auto 6 - Stuff
- SKITTLES LITTLES: Don't Just Taste The Rainbow Live In It With New Space Designed By Interior Decorator Dani Klaric - Culturess - May 6th, 2024 [May 6th, 2024]
- You Could Live in This Skittles-Themed Apartment Rent-Free (for a Year!) - Apartment Therapy - May 6th, 2024 [May 6th, 2024]
- See Every Room Inside the Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York 2024 - Architectural Digest - May 6th, 2024 [May 6th, 2024]
- Please don't make us live in the Skittles apartment - Fast Company - May 6th, 2024 [May 6th, 2024]
- Im a top New Jersey interior designer items you shouldnt spend too much on & my go-to spots to shop on... - The Sun - May 6th, 2024 [May 6th, 2024]
- Skittles Is Giving Fans the Chance to Live in This Colorful Micro-Apartment Rent-Free for a Year - Yahoo Lifestyle Australia - May 6th, 2024 [May 6th, 2024]
- The 12 Cringiest Home Decor Trends, According to YouTubers and TikTokers - Architectural Digest - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- My interior design tips will revamp your home on a budget a quick, affordable trick instantly changes a r... - The US Sun - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- I shop for my interior design clients at HomeGoods items I love in the kitchen section, just avoid a 2... - The Sun - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Home Design Trends That Need To Make A Comeback - BuzzFeed - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- 23 Best Austin Interior Designers on the AD PRO Directory - Architectural Digest - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- These are the design secrets I used to style an apartment into my dream home at 26 - and the most expensive th - Daily Mail - April 8th, 2024 [April 8th, 2024]
- Interior Decorator Shares 10 Things She'd Never Have in Her Home - Business Insider - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Interior designer says that having family photo 'shrines' in the house is poor taste - Upworthy - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- This neglected 1840s townhouse had been a run-down rental for over 40 years | - Homes & Gardens - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- This Interior Designer's Own Apartment is Elegant and Luxurious Yet Surprisingly "Life-Proof" Too - LivingEtc - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- 9 Kitchen Design Trends to Leave Behind in 2023, According to Interior Designers - Yahoo Life - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- 34 Products For Anyone Who Wants To Refresh Their Home But Can't Afford An Interior Decorator - BuzzFeed - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- "You Dey Active Everywhere": Lady Who's a Tailor, Caterer, Event Planner, Interior Decorator Trends - Legit.ng - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- Meet the Interior Designers on the AD100 2024 List - Architectural Digest - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- Sex Story: The Divorce Who Wants to Seduce Her Trainer - The Cut - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- You'd Never Guess Where This Renter's "Secret" Storage Spot Is - Yahoo Life - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Montgomery County Retired Teachers Association - Journal Review - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Designers Can't Get Enough of These Interior Paint Color Trends for ... - Southern Living - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Meet the professional Christmas tree decorator who makes 2k to pay for her entire festive season - Yahoo Lifestyle UK - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- 10 LGBTQ+ Designers Who Could Replace Bobby Berk On 'Queer Eye' - Yahoo News - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- This Emily Henderson-approved bedroom is endlessly cozy | - Homes & Gardens - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Kourtney Kardashian's dining room reinvents the gallery wall | - Homes & Gardens - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Does a living room need a coffee table? Experts weigh in | - Homes & Gardens - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Do you need curtains? Designers explain when you can go without ... - Homes & Gardens - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- The history of the folding screen unfolds in a Milan exhibition - Financial Times - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Mary Fitzgerald Is the Heart of 'Selling Sunset' Season 7 - Collider - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Inside the Superyacht Princess Diana Vacationed on With Dodi Fayed - ELLE Decor - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- ABC home renovation show set to outclass The Block and Dream ... - The New Daily - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Interior Designer vs. Interior Decorator: Whats The Difference? - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Online Interior Decorator School | Penn Foster - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Public procurement: Share of goods bought from MSMEs hits new high in FY23; benefits this many sellers - The Financial Express - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Taylor Swift's House Has a Koi Pond, But She Really Wanted Stingrays - Showbiz Cheat Sheet - August 20th, 2022 [August 20th, 2022]
- 'Feud: Capote's Women': How Does the Cast Compare to Their Real-Life Counterparts? (PHOTOS) - TV Insider - August 20th, 2022 [August 20th, 2022]
- Designing Inclusive Spaces for Kids With Special Needs Goes Back to the 5 Senses - Domino - August 20th, 2022 [August 20th, 2022]
- Denmark Is Looking For Workers From Other Countries to Fill in These Jobs - SchengenVisaInfo.com - SchengenVisaInfo.com - August 20th, 2022 [August 20th, 2022]
- International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum parked in Chattanooga - Wilson Post - August 20th, 2022 [August 20th, 2022]
- From Hairdressers to Chefs: The 12-Hour Live Performance Documenting the Working Lives of the People of Manchester - Manchester's Finest - August 20th, 2022 [August 20th, 2022]
- The Resort Filming Location: Oceana Vista Hotel Is The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan in Puerto Rico - DIRT - August 20th, 2022 [August 20th, 2022]
- The Best Food Events in New Jersey This August - New Jersey Monthly - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- China's military drills could be a prelude to something much worse in Taiwan - The Telegraph - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- An intruder who broke into Windsor Castle when the Queen was in residence has been charged with treason - Tatler - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- How Production Design of Only Murders in the Building Told Stories About the Shows Characters - Hollywood Reporter - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- Charlie Albone shares his love of gardening and tips for creating your dream green space in new book - The West Australian - August 4th, 2022 [August 4th, 2022]
- How Jan Showers learned to trust her instincts - Business of Home - November 16th, 2021 [November 16th, 2021]
- Light switch alternatives: Why its time to ditch plastic - Country Life - November 16th, 2021 [November 16th, 2021]
- A Rapid Rehousing Event Looks To Help the City's Homeless - Chicagomag.com - November 16th, 2021 [November 16th, 2021]
- Klimt vs. Klimt: The Man of Contradictions Review: Exploring an Art-Nouveau Master Online - The Wall Street Journal - November 16th, 2021 [November 16th, 2021]
- A timeline of the Tory sleaze allegations - The Week UK - November 16th, 2021 [November 16th, 2021]
- Mason Brothers trio leave their mark on the business - Wadena Pioneer Journal - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Inside the Clinton White House, Designed by Kaki Hockersmith - HouseBeautiful.com - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Mom is 'saving lives' by normalizing less-than-perfect reality - Yahoo Lifestyle - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- PHOTOS: The rise and fall of Hong Kong's July 1 protests | The Associated Press - Business Mirror - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Wikipedia map reveals most searched for celebrity in Braintree | Braintree and Witham Times - Braintree and Witham Times - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- The Psychology of House Cleaning: How Tidying and Decorating Can Lead to Happiness - Vogue - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- 1916: Syracuses men and women were divided over a $10,000 Heart Balm trial - syracuse.com - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- 16 Dinnerware Sets With the Clever Seal of Approval - Architectural Digest - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- What Happened to Luann De Lesseps' Ex-Husband Tom DAgostino? - Heavy.com - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- RHONJ Recap: Dolores Confronts Ladies for Talking About Relationship With David; Teresa's Boyfriend Luis Makes Debut - Reality Blurb - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- David Chase and The Sopranos writers break down Pine Barrens, 20 years on - British GQ - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- What $750,000 Buys You in Pennsylvania, New York and Georgia - The New York Times - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- Who is who in the "Wallpapergate", the scandal that puts Boris Johnson on the ropes - Tallaght Magazine - May 9th, 2021 [May 9th, 2021]
- Living in a house inspired by Japanese culture - - VENTS Magazine - February 16th, 2021 [February 16th, 2021]
- "My Mike Tyson": Gauri Khan's Caption For This Adorable Pic Of Son AbRam - NDTV - February 16th, 2021 [February 16th, 2021]
- The rise of micro-collaborations - Business of Home - February 14th, 2021 [February 14th, 2021]
- The Color Coordination Tip You Need To Know For A Perfectly Organized Closet - The List - February 14th, 2021 [February 14th, 2021]
- The "Game of Thrones" Throne Is Made With 200 Swordsand more Crazy Facts From Famous TV and Film Furniture - HouseBeautiful.com - February 14th, 2021 [February 14th, 2021]
- Freshly Announced Prestige X70 Yacht Is the Fully Customizable Boat of the Year - autoevolution - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- The hottest decorating trends find comfort in traditional elements - The Keene Sentinel - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Dwell On This: Start an Indoor Herb Garden - Dwell - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- How to choose the right lighting inside your home - Daily Herald - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Twinkle Khanna Shares The Perks Of "Being Named After A Nursery Rhyme" - NDTV - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Annabelle's Interiors offers creative imagination to unique styles - Clay Today Online - November 26th, 2020 [November 26th, 2020]
- Is Sussanne Khan holidaying on an island? - Times of India - November 26th, 2020 [November 26th, 2020]
- 5 incredible splurges of the rich and famous - Be Global Fashion Network - November 26th, 2020 [November 26th, 2020]