With less than a month to go until its release, fans have learned a fair amount about Grand Theft Auto 6, and it still seems like they’ve only gotten to know a small portion of what’s coming in this gargantuan game. A recent interview unveiled interesting facts about improved police response, NPC reactions, a dynamic weather system, and realistic public transportation. As more details are revealed, fans are continuously blown away by Rockstar’s attention to the small things in the game.
Rockstar has been working on GTA 6 for many years, allowing them to reach a perhaps unprecedented level of detail. Leonida is a hyperrealistic world with intricate, interconnected systems that regulate the lives of its digital inhabitants. In GTA 6, committing crimes isn’t only about going guns-blazing. Players will have to plan ahead so they don’t find themselves in a bad situation. And if Jason and Lucia end up attracting too much attention from law enforcement, the police will display new methods of arrest.
New GTA 6 exclusive shows police dogs and realistic bus routes
In an exclusive report, Edge Magazine sat down with Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson, and witnessed how much harder it will be to escape the police’s grasp in GTA 6. Not only are the cops able to identify you based on your last sighting (especially if you’re spotted by CCTV), but they can also find you easily thanks to car trackers and NPC reports. If you’re spotted, then be prepared to face not only human officers but also the K9 unit, which the police will sic on criminals.
In the gameplay witnessed by Edge’s reporter, Jason and Lucia are on the run following a motorcycle crash after a robbery. A K9 unit quickly joins the pursuit, and one of the Alsatians jumps on Jason, pinning him on the ground. So, if you have a hard time shooting dogs in a game, get ready to spend a lot of time in jail in GTA 6.
Cops aren’t the only problem when committing crimes in Grand Theft Auto 6. Each NPC has distinct traits and will react differently to Jason and Lucia’s actions. While some are more inclined to back away, others may attack them — whether they’re a victim or a passerby. Therefore, players will also have to pay attention to NPCs that might try to play the hero, as not all of them will cower in fear.
Response to crime is just one of the many systems that have been taken to the next level in Grand Theft Auto 6. Public transportation in Leonida is also impressively realistic, as both the bus and train have their own routes and timetables. Phil Hooker, head of development, has put a lot of hours into making sure that these systems are working as intended — perhaps even better than in real life. “I’m obsessed with making sure they always turn up,” Hooker told Edge.
It’s not all about experiencing the chaos of Leonida; players can sit back on the bus as they wait to arrive at their stop. The bus ride is the perfect opportunity to relax and watch the clouds. GTA 6‘s dynamic weather system is a massive improvement over GTA 5: cloud systems move independently and are shaped by wind, humidity, fog, time of day, and season.
Continuity and trust let Rockstar build its biggest project
Grand Theft Auto 6 is a major success without being out yet, in large part thanks to Rockstar’s incredible teamwork. Many of its developers have worked together for decades and can see how they fit into such an enormous project without being explicitly told what to do. Each team could make significant progress on their areas without waiting for instructions from above. As Rob Nelson puts it, “The teams individually had a strong idea of what they wanted to evolve. It didn’t need to come from us saying, ‘We need to do this’, or ‘We need to do that’.”
To make GTA 6, it was crucial for Rockstar to guarantee continuity and trust, learning from previous titles and retaining valued team members. This is what has allowed for employees such as Hooker to look at the final product and say, “We’ve made what we wanted to make.”