Dazed Publishes World-Exclusive GTA 6 Preview With New Gameplay Details

The first world-exclusive GTA 6 preview has revealed major gameplay details including weight and muscle systems, relationship mechanics, working social media, reactive NPCs and more.

Dazed had the privilege to publish the first major GTA 6 preview ahead of Rockstar Games' upcoming extended look at the game, revealing a wealth of new gameplay details including weight and muscle systems, deeper relationship mechanics, working social media, more reactive NPCs and much more.

The extensive feature includes interviews with several senior Rockstar Games developers, providing new insight into how GTA 6 has evolved from both Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2, while also revealing the extraordinary amount of research that has gone into recreating Florida as the fictional state of Leonida.

GTA 6's world will react to your actions

According to Dazed, GTA 6 aims to find a balance between the chaotic action of GTA V and the more grounded realism of Red Dead Redemption 2.

Leonida is described as being more grounded and reactive than previous GTA worlds, with player actions now having greater consequences.

One example provided is simply walking down the street carrying a rifle, which will cause the surrounding city to react to your behaviour.

Rockstar North Head of Development and Co-Studio Head Rob Nelson explained that the developer has looked critically at its previous games to identify areas it could improve.

"A lot of what we do is very iterative – we adjust a lot of things by feel based on what is working and what isn't," Nelson said.

NPCs are also expected to behave less like traditional video game characters, with Rockstar aiming to create a world which reacts more realistically to whatever the player chooses to do.

Jason and Lucia can work together or independently

The preview provides several new details regarding the unique gameplay opportunities created by having Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos as GTA 6's two protagonists.

Players will be able to operate as a couple or head off independently, with character switching apparently playing a much greater role during activities involving both characters.

In one example, players can drive along the highway as Jason while Lucia sits in the passenger seat, before switching directly to Lucia and scrolling through her phone.

GTA 6 is also confirmed to feature working in-game social media feeds which can be accessed through the phone.

If a mission develops into a car chase, the same system can allow players to control the driver before switching to the passenger and firing at pursuing enemies through the window.

The pair can also travel together outside of missions, with Dazed describing Jason and Lucia riding a jetski together through Leonida's waters.

Deeper relationship mechanics

Jason and Lucia's relationship will apparently extend beyond GTA 6's storyline and into its gameplay systems.

Rockstar Senior Vice President of Narrative Rupert Humphries describes their story as a "Bonnie and Clyde-type narrative", while Dazed reports that player choices can have repercussions considerably deeper than the honour systems featured in previous Rockstar games.

The article later specifically refers to GTA 6 having "deep relationship mechanics", although exactly how these systems operate has not yet been revealed.

Rockstar is attempting to balance player freedom with keeping Jason and Lucia believable as established characters.

"We want to enable as much self-expression as possible," Nelson explained, while ensuring this doesn't result in "losing the essence of the characters."

Food, exercise and lifestyle change your appearance

Some of the most interesting new gameplay details involve the return and expansion of character simulation systems previously seen in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Food will affect the weight of both Jason and Lucia, while exercise will visibly build and tone their muscles.

Their appearance can also reflect how the player has been living.

Spending extended periods away from bed, remaining on the run from police or going on a multi-day drinking bender can all visibly affect their features, with the consequences of the player's lifestyle appearing on their faces and bodies.

This appears to represent a considerably expanded version of the weight and appearance systems featured in Red Dead Redemption 2.

New GTA 6 gameplay features confirmed

The Dazed preview reveals or provides further confirmation of several GTA 6 gameplay features:

• Food affects Jason and Lucia's weight.

• Exercise visibly builds and tones their muscles.

• Sleep and lifestyle choices can affect their faces and bodies.

• Extended police pursuits and multi-day benders can visibly affect their appearance.

• GTA 6 features "deep relationship mechanics" between Jason and Lucia.

• Player choices involving their relationship can have consequences deeper than previous Rockstar honour systems.

• Jason and Lucia can operate together or independently.

• Players can switch between Jason driving and Lucia sitting in the passenger seat.

• Players can switch between driving and shooting from the passenger seat during vehicle chases.

• GTA 6 features working in-game social media feeds which can be browsed using the phone.

• The world reacts more realistically to player behaviour, including NPC reactions to openly carrying weapons.

• Rockstar says GTA 6 features its most detailed and varied NPC population to date.

• NPC appearance and behaviour varies according to location and culture.

• NPCs vary in age, height, body type, tattoos, piercings, plastic surgery, clothing and other characteristics.

• GTA 6 features a deeper fashion and character customisation ecosystem, including haircuts and outfits.

• In-game brands, products, shops and advertising campaigns have been designed to function as part of Leonida's wider culture.

• Real Dimez's career can be followed through viral posts on GTA 6's in-game social media.

• Jason and Lucia can ride jetskis together.

• Dolphins can be encountered in Leonida's waters.

• Rockstar's vehicle-handling team includes real race-car drivers.

Rockstar has a dedicated research team in Miami

A significant portion of the preview focuses on Rockstar's efforts to authentically recreate Miami and Florida.

Various groups of Rockstar employees have travelled to Miami and surrounding areas throughout GTA 6's development, while a dedicated research team is embedded in the city.

GTA 6 writer Michael Wiafe explained that Rockstar wanted to approach Florida with genuine curiosity rather than simply filling the game with familiar "Florida Man" stereotypes.

"We have to bring a sense of discovery to the players too, not just repeat cliches that already exist," Wiafe said.

Rockstar's research has involved spending time with people including former criminals, law enforcement officers, club promoters and gun dealers.

According to Dazed, the majority of GTA 6's characters were born out of this real-world research.

Senior Art Director for Characters Jamie-Lee Lloyd said the first-hand experience helped Rockstar understand the visual details and nuances of the identities it wanted to represent, before filtering those observations through the fictional world of GTA.

Rockstar's most varied NPC population yet

Rockstar has also developed new technology specifically to increase the diversity of GTA 6's NPC population.

Characters will vary considerably in age, height, clothing and physical appearance, including tattoos, piercings and even plastic surgery.

The types of people encountered will also be tailored to their surroundings, meaning the population of areas such as Little Cuba will differ from those found around locations such as Mount Kalaga National Park.

"To bring that diversity to life in-game, we developed new tools and pipelines that enabled us to build the most detailed and varied character population we've ever created," Lloyd said.

Rockstar has even established an office in Los Angeles dedicated almost entirely to the game's pedestrian population.

Fashion and brands play a bigger role

GTA 6's attention to detail extends to fashion, with Miami-based stylist Jillian Carr working with Rockstar since 2023 to develop what is described as an in-game "fashion ecosystem".

The system aims to represent differences in taste, lifestyle, wealth and individuality throughout Leonida.

"Vice City is built around vanity," Carr explained, pointing towards the influence of social media, celebrity culture and tourism on the city's appearance and rapidly changing trends.

Haircuts and clothing choices will provide another means for players to personalise Jason and Lucia while retaining their established identities.

Rockstar has taken a similar approach to GTA 6's fictional brands.

Vice President of 2D/UI Design Stu Petri says products, fashion labels, car companies, shops and advertising campaigns are intended to feel like genuine parts of Leonida rather than simply existing as individual jokes or parodies.

More than 50 street artists contributed to GTA 6

The sheer scale of GTA 6's development is also highlighted throughout the feature.

Rockstar's overall development team has more than doubled in size since the release of Red Dead Redemption 2.

More than 50 real street artists were brought in to create murals for GTA 6, including artwork found around Vice City's Stockyard, which is based on Miami's Wynwood district.

Meanwhile, the development team responsible for GTA 6's vehicle handling includes actual race-car drivers.

Rockstar hopes all of these individual elements will combine to create a world players will want to explore for years.

"It is a lot of pressure internally and externally, but that pressure is ultimately a privilege we know we are fortunate to have," Nelson said.

"All we want to do is deliver for our audience."

Read the full article at Dazed.