Flow Games Reveals More GTA 6 Details: Fuel System, No First-Person, 30 FPS, Diving For Treasure & More

Flow Games has revealed a huge amount of new GTA 6 details, including a working fuel system, no full first-person mode, 30 FPS, accessible interiors, gang compounds, underwater treasures and much more.

Flow Games has revealed a huge collection of new GTA 6 gameplay details following an extended visit to Rockstar North, including functional fuel and electric vehicle charging, no full first-person mode, fewer sports minigames, underwater shipwrecks, gang compounds, hundreds of vehicles and extensive new details about police, robberies, weapons, interiors and exploration.

Brazilian creator Davy Jones travelled to Rockstar North in Edinburgh, where he watched more than two hours of GTA 6 being played live while speaking extensively with Head of Development and Co-director Rob Nelson.

While some of the information overlaps with details revealed through other official previews, Flow Games' unusually lengthy demonstration and subsequent series of articles revealed several new details and provided considerably more information about some of GTA 6's biggest gameplay systems.

Vice City Is Twice the Size of Los Santos

Rockstar confirmed to Flow Games that Vice City alone is approximately twice the size of GTA V's Los Santos.

The areas outside Vice City won't simply consist of empty countryside either, with numerous smaller towns and other built-up areas spread throughout Leonida.

Rockstar says the amount of built-up areas outside the main city is approximately 11 times what was present outside Los Santos in GTA V.

Most of the Map Opens Up Very Early

Despite the significantly larger world, Rockstar doesn't intend to keep players confined to a small section of Leonida for a large portion of the story.

After completing the opening missions, players will be able to explore practically anywhere they want.

GTA 6 Has a Huge Number of Accessible Interiors

Rockstar describes the combination of GTA 6's enormous scale and its interior density as one of the pillars of the game.

Players will be able to enter stores and other businesses alongside considerably more detailed locations.

During Flow Games' demonstration, Nelson entered a highly detailed second-hand store that was simply another ordinary business within the world rather than a major mission location.

Some Buildings Have Accessible Lobbies and Rooftops

Large buildings won't necessarily be represented by an inaccessible exterior.

Nelson explained that many buildings feature lobbies alongside ways of reaching their rooftops, providing additional vertical exploration throughout Vice City.

Mission Locations Can Remain Open Afterwards

Locations created for story missions won't necessarily become inaccessible once the mission has finished.

When asked about a nightclub used during a narrative sequence, Nelson confirmed that the club can also be freely visited outside the mission.

Cars and Motorcycles Can Run Out of Fuel

GTA 6 will feature a fully functional fuel system for vehicles.

Cars and motorcycles can actually run out of fuel, potentially leaving the player stranded during a journey or even in the middle of a police chase.

Nelson described one of his own gameplay sessions in which he stole a vehicle while escaping from police, only to discover that it had less than a quarter of a tank remaining. The vehicle eventually ran out of fuel before he managed to escape.

Rockstar sees situations like this as part of GTA 6's focus on creating unexpected events through interconnected gameplay systems.

You Won't Constantly Need to Refuel

Despite the addition of fuel, Rockstar doesn't want GTA 6 to become a refuelling simulator.

Nelson explained that the system has deliberately been designed so that it isn't irritating, with a full tank lasting a considerable amount of time.

The fuel indicator also won't permanently occupy space on the interface, instead appearing when the vehicle begins running low.

Electric Cars Can Be Recharged

GTA 6 will also feature electric vehicles with their own functional charging system.

During the demonstration, Davy Jones noticed an electrical plug symbol in a parking area and asked Nelson what it represented.

Nelson confirmed that it was a charging point for electric vehicles, with multiple charging stations available throughout the world.

GTA 6 Has Hundreds of Different Vehicles

Rockstar confirmed that GTA 6 will feature hundreds of different vehicles.

Alongside the enormous selection of cars, motorcycles and boats, Flow Games specifically confirmed the presence of kayaks and electric scooters.

Vehicle Handling Will Be Heavier Than GTA V

Rockstar has significantly changed vehicle physics for GTA 6, moving away from some of the more forgiving characteristics of GTA V.

Cars will have more weight and individual models will behave differently depending on the vehicle and terrain.

Modifications can also affect characteristics including traction, off-road performance and street racing capabilities.

You Can't Simply Flip an Overturned Car Back Over

One particularly notable change concerns overturned vehicles.

Unlike GTA V, players won't simply be able to manipulate an overturned car until it rolls back onto its wheels in the same way.

Getting into a serious accident could therefore have much greater consequences, particularly during a police chase.

Vehicle Damage Has Gameplay Consequences

Damage isn't purely cosmetic.

A damaged engine can negatively affect how a vehicle drives, while Rockstar has considerably expanded vehicle deformation.

The condition of a stolen vehicle also affects its resale value, meaning heavily damaging an expensive car before delivering it will reduce the amount of money received.

Stealing Cars Is Almost an Activity of Its Own

Grand theft auto itself has become a much deeper gameplay system.

Some vehicles may already be unlocked or have their keys available, while others require specialist equipment.

A slim-jim can be used to gain access to some vehicles, while sophisticated cars may require electronic key-cloning equipment that becomes available through progression.

You Can Steal Supercars Early in the Game

Rockstar isn't artificially preventing players from taking expensive cars simply because they haven't reached a particular point in the campaign.

Nelson explained that if the player finds a supercar parked on a street in Vice Beach, they can attempt to steal it regardless of how far they have progressed.

The challenge instead comes from having the correct equipment to defeat the vehicle's security systems.

The Scanner Reveals Vehicle Security and Value

Players can use GTA 6's scanner to obtain information about vehicles before attempting to steal them.

One car examined during the demonstration had an alarm, required key cloning and contained an advanced tracker.

The tracker effectively starts a timer once the car is stolen, with police potentially being alerted if the player takes too long.

Some Stolen Cars Are Worth More Than $20,000

One vehicle demonstrated to Flow Games had a specialist fence willing to pay approximately $21,000 for it.

Specialist vehicle fences provide lists of specific cars they want and offer substantially higher prices for successfully delivering them.

Another example could be sold for approximately $10,000 through a specialist buyer.

Pay 'n' Spray Buys More Common Stolen Cars

Pay 'n' Spray locations can also purchase stolen vehicles but generally offer considerably less money than specialist fences.

One vehicle shown during the demonstration was worth approximately $1,500 through a Pay 'n' Spray.

These locations will be distributed throughout Leonida and provide a more convenient way of disposing of ordinary stolen vehicles.

Damaging a Stolen Car Reduces Its Value

Keeping a valuable vehicle intact matters if you intend to sell it.

Rockstar confirmed that damage suffered while stealing or transporting a car reduces its final sale value.

A high-value theft can therefore become less profitable if the player destroys half the vehicle while escaping from police.

Money Can Be Required to Progress the Story

Money will be considerably more important in GTA 6 than in previous games.

Players won't necessarily be able to continuously move from one main story mission directly into the next.

At certain points, Jason and Lucia will need to go out into the world and make money before they can continue progressing through the campaign.

Opportunities include bank robberies, stores, gas stations, financial businesses, vehicle theft and other criminal activities.

Cash and Banked Money Are Separate

Money carried physically by Jason and Lucia is treated separately from money deposited into their bank account.

If the player is arrested, they can lose the cash currently being carried, providing a reason to regularly deposit earnings using ATMs.

Money deposited into the bank is shared between Jason and Lucia.

Every Crime Needs to Be Reported

GTA 6's police system has been redesigned around information actually available to witnesses, cameras and officers.

Flow Games reports that a crime must be witnessed or detected by a security system before police are alerted.

The interface can display information beneath the wanted level indicating what details have been reported.

Police Can Identify Your Face, Clothes, Car and Weapons

The information police receive can include the suspect's face, clothing, vehicle, weapons and whether multiple offenders were involved.

If a surveillance camera records an unmasked Jason or Lucia, for example, their appearance can become part of the description being circulated to officers.

Changing Clothes Reduces Police Recognition

Changing aspects of Jason or Lucia's appearance can remove information associated with the police description and reduce how easily officers recognise them.

Adding items such as a hat and glasses or completely changing clothes can therefore become a genuine escape tactic.

Police No Longer Normally Appear on the Minimap

Police officers aren't normally displayed directly on the minimap during a pursuit.

Rockstar instead wants players looking at the world around them to identify threats rather than constantly watching the radar.

The Focus ability can provide additional assistance when attempting to determine where police are located.

Police Search Specific Areas

Police establish a search area around the location where the crime occurred.

While the player remains inside that area, officers continue searching for them.

Escaping the region and finding somewhere to hide can allow the search to eventually end.

Pay 'n' Spray Won't Automatically Fool Police

Pay 'n' Spray remains useful for escaping police, but changing a vehicle's appearance won't automatically make the player invisible to law enforcement.

If Jason is riding a motorcycle, for example, officers may still recognise him based on his clothing and physical appearance.

Likewise, if police know what the suspect looks like but don't know their vehicle, quietly entering something less conspicuous such as a van can make identification more difficult.

Separating Jason and Lucia Can Reduce Your Wanted Level

Jason and Lucia can deliberately separate during a police pursuit.

If both protagonists are wanted and split up, some police attention follows the other character.

According to Nelson, this can reduce the controlled character's wanted level by one star.

Jason and Lucia Have a Shared Relationship Attribute

The protagonists' relationship isn't purely part of GTA 6's scripted story.

Nelson confirmed that their relationship itself is a shared attribute.

The pair can communicate, determine where the other character is and check on their current situation.

Rockstar wants the player to effectively become a guardian of their relationship, experiencing events from both sides.

Jason and Lucia Have Different Combat Abilities

The protagonists aren't simply interchangeable versions of one another.

Nelson says Jason and Lucia are significantly different in gameplay terms and fight differently.

Both have access to the Focus ability, although they have different amounts of it available.

You Can Switch Characters During Vehicle Combat

Character switching can take place dynamically during action sequences.

Nelson demonstrated a motorcycle pursuit where switching characters caused the partner to take control of the vehicle while the player moved into the passenger role.

The player could then concentrate on shooting at pursuing enemies while their partner continued driving.

You Can Incapacitate Enemies Without Killing Them

GTA 6's combat system makes a clearer distinction between injuring, incapacitating and killing enemies.

Shooting someone in areas such as the knee, elbow or arm can cause them to fall and stop fighting without necessarily killing them.

Hit indicators communicate the result: white represents a normal hit, yellow indicates incapacitation and red represents death.

You Can Potentially Play Much of GTA 6 Without Killing Enemies

Flow Games reports that players who want to take a less lethal approach can potentially spend much of the game incapacitating opponents rather than killing them.

These choices feed into GTA 6's Criminal Profile system rather than simply being cosmetic differences in combat.

Your Criminal Profile Can Affect the Overall Story

Executing an enemy who has already been incapacitated can be treated differently from simply neutralising the threat and moving on.

Most significantly, Nelson confirmed that the Criminal Profile can have an impact on the wider narrative and story.

When asked whether this means GTA 6 has multiple endings, however, Nelson declined to reveal the answer.

GTA 6 Has More Gore Than GTA V, But Less Than Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar also addressed the level of graphic violence players can expect.

According to Nelson, GTA 6 will feature considerably more graphic violence and gore than GTA V.

However, it won't go as far as Red Dead Redemption 2, which featured particularly detailed wounds and dismemberment.

You Can Carry Two Handguns and Two Long Guns

GTA 6 abandons the enormous invisible weapon inventory traditionally associated with the series.

Jason and Lucia can carry two smaller weapons and two long guns at once.

The smaller weapons remain concealed, while rifles, shotguns and other long guns are physically visible on the character.

NPCs React to Visible Weapons

The decision to physically display larger weapons also connects to GTA 6's NPC systems.

Walking around with a long gun on your back may not immediately cause panic, but actively carrying a weapon in your hands attracts considerably more attention.

Rockstar wants NPC reactions to make sense based on what they can actually see the player doing.

Vehicles Store Weapons, Equipment and Clothes

The player's personal vehicle effectively takes over part of the role performed by Arthur Morgan's horse in Red Dead Redemption 2.

The trunk can store additional weapons and equipment that aren't currently being carried.

Clothing can also be stored in the vehicle, which becomes particularly useful because changing appearance can help prevent police from identifying Jason or Lucia.

You Don't Permanently Lose Stored Weapons

Weapons that have been purchased or otherwise acquired remain available to the player even when they aren't currently being carried.

They can be stored in the personal vehicle or another dedicated storage location rather than being permanently lost.

Weapons Can Temporarily Be Stored in Other Cars

Storage isn't limited entirely to the protagonist's personal vehicle.

Weapons can temporarily be placed into other vehicles, allowing Jason or Lucia to leave conspicuous firearms behind before undertaking another activity.

There Is a Separate Inventory for Tools and Items

Weapons aren't the only inventory players need to manage.

GTA 6 has a separate inventory for items and tools, including equipment used to break into locked areas and items used to recover health.

Jason and Lucia Track Calories, Muscle and Body Fat

GTA 6 contains significantly deeper fitness systems than GTA V.

A character menu shown during the demonstration contained information for calories, muscle, body fat and strength.

Exercise, running and fighting can improve physical attributes, while overeating can cause Jason and Lucia to gain weight.

Health, stamina and Focus are also among the protagonists' major attributes.

Physical Changes Are Limited by Each Character's Natural Build

Although players can make Jason and Lucia thinner, heavier or more muscular, Rockstar isn't allowing completely unrestricted body transformations.

The system remains tied to the natural physical characteristics and design of each protagonist.

Fitness Systems Are Optional

Rockstar doesn't want players to feel forced to constantly visit gyms or manage calories.

The systems are designed as optional layers for players who want greater depth rather than mandatory survival mechanics.

Hair and Beards Don't Grow Automatically

One difference from Red Dead Redemption 2 is that Jason and Lucia's hair won't continuously grow over time.

Players will still be able to customise hairstyles and their appearance, but Rockstar has removed the automatic hair-growth simulation used for Arthur Morgan.

Painkillers Become Less Effective if Used Repeatedly

Food helps maintain the protagonists' health, while painkillers can provide faster partial recovery.

However, repeatedly relying on painkillers results in diminishing effectiveness.

Rockstar therefore encourages players to eat and look after their characters without turning GTA 6 into a demanding survival simulator.

You Can Explore Underwater Shipwrecks

GTA 6's exploration extends well beneath the surface of Leonida's surrounding waters.

Nelson confirmed that players can obtain diving equipment and explore underwater shipwrecks.

Rockstar says there will be plenty to search for beneath the water.

There Are Hidden Underwater Treasures

Shipwrecks won't be the only reason to go diving.

Nelson specifically confirmed that treasures can be discovered underwater, providing meaningful rewards for exploring the ocean surrounding Leonida.

Magazines and Comic Books Are Collectibles

Collectibles will also be scattered throughout the land-based world.

Flow Games specifically mentions magazines and comic books among the objects players can discover while exploring Leonida.

A Scanner Helps You Discover Things in the World

GTA 6 includes a scanner designed to help players identify discoverable elements in the environment.

Combined with collectibles, underwater exploration, interiors and optional criminal activities, the system provides another reason to investigate locations away from the main story.

There Are Numerous Gang Compounds Across Leonida

GTA 6 contains numerous gang compounds that can be discovered around the map.

Players can attack these locations directly or attempt to infiltrate them using stealth.

Nelson indicated that there are many such locations, noting after a lengthy gameplay demonstration that they hadn't even looked at any of the gang compounds.

You Can Steal Drugs From Gang Compounds and Sell Them

Gang locations can contain valuable contraband.

Nelson described discovering drugs worth more than $4,500 during one of his gameplay sessions and subsequently selling them.

This provides yet another way of making money outside GTA 6's traditional missions.

NPC Density Changes Depending on Time and Location

Rockstar describes GTA 6's population density as enormous.

The number and types of NPCs present aren't static either. Population levels change depending on both location and time of day.

For example, the number of people visiting the beach rises and falls throughout the day, while individual regions are populated by characters designed to look appropriate for that particular area.

Rockstar Created a Dedicated Team for NPC Dialogue

The enormous NPC population required Rockstar to establish a new team of writers, directors and producers specifically focused on creating and recording pedestrian dialogue.

Rockstar wants players to have far more ways of interacting with NPCs without every encounter inevitably escalating into a fight or gun battle.

Every Store Can Be Robbed

Flow Games reports that every store in GTA 6 can be robbed.

These aren't necessarily traditional scripted missions, with robberies instead operating as activities players can initiate naturally while exploring the world.

Store Robberies Can Change Depending on NPC Behaviour

Flow Games witnessed different versions of convenience store robberies demonstrating how NPC behaviour can change the situation.

In one example, a frightened employee fled and left behind a key providing access to a back area containing additional money.

In another scenario, the employee escaped without leaving the key, forcing the player to use a break-in tool to gain access instead.

The same basic crime can therefore create different problems depending on how the people involved react.

GTA 6's Phone Changes as the Story Progresses

Jason and Lucia's smartphones will evolve throughout GTA 6 rather than remaining static interfaces.

The phone includes apps, messages, news, social media and videos created specifically for the game.

Nelson confirmed that the content available through the phone updates as players progress through the story.

Each device is also intended to feel like it genuinely belongs to Jason or Lucia, containing information and applications relevant to that character.

Scooter Bros Delivers Your Personal Vehicle

One of the phone applications is called Scooter Bros.

The service allows players to request delivery of their personal vehicle.

Rather than the car simply appearing nearby, a character physically delivers it before leaving the area on a scooter.

GTA 6 Won't Have a Full First-Person Mode

Flow Games reports that GTA 6 won't feature a complete first-person gameplay mode.

Rockstar has instead concentrated its resources on the game's extensive third-person animation systems.

First-person perspectives can still be used when aiming certain weapons, but the game won't have the complete first-person mode found in later versions of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2.

There Will Be Fewer Sports Minigames Than GTA V

Rockstar is taking a more selective approach to sports minigames in GTA 6.

Nelson explained that the game will contain fewer of them than GTA V because Rockstar wants every included activity to meet the same quality standard as the rest of the game.

According to Nelson, many of GTA V's minigames didn't reach the quality level the studio would now expect.

There Is No Skateboarding Minigame

Skateboarding was considered during GTA 6's development but won't be included as a minigame at launch.

Rockstar concluded that it wouldn't have enough time to develop a skateboarding system to the standard required for the rest of the game.

There Is No Surfing Minigame

Despite GTA 6's extensive coastline and focus on water activities, Flow Games also confirms that surfing isn't included as a sports minigame.

The ocean will instead support activities including swimming, boating, diving and underwater exploration.

Missions Have "More Variety Than Ever"

Rockstar says GTA 6's ability to move many robberies and criminal activities into the open world has given the developers greater freedom when designing traditional missions.

Nelson says the missions Rockstar has been able to develop in depth have more variety than ever before.

Some will be enormous action set pieces, while others will focus on unusual slices of everyday life.

Some Parts of the Story Are Deliberately Slow

GTA 6 won't attempt to maintain maximum action throughout the entire campaign.

Rockstar has deliberately included slower moments to control the game's pacing and make its major action sequences feel more impactful.

GTA 6 Is Currently Running at 30 FPS on Consoles

Flow Games asked Nelson directly about GTA 6's console performance.

According to Nelson, the game is currently running at 30 frames per second across the console versions during development.

That includes PS5, Xbox Series consoles and PS5 Pro.

Rockstar Hasn't Confirmed Whether a 60 FPS Mode Will Be Available

Nelson did not definitively rule out another performance option.

He said he would need to consult Rockstar's technical team regarding whether a 60 FPS option could be available at launch or potentially later.

No specific information was provided about resolution, ray tracing or other technical differences between consoles.

GTA 6's Campaign Length Is Comparable to Red Dead Redemption 2

Flow Games also asked Nelson about the overall length of GTA 6's campaign.

Rather than providing a specific number of hours, Nelson indicated that the experience is generally comparable in length to Red Dead Redemption 2.

The actual playtime will naturally vary considerably depending on how much of GTA 6's enormous amount of optional content each player chooses to explore.

Rockstar Is Building GTA 6 Around Interconnected Systems

More than any individual feature, Flow Games' demonstration reinforces how heavily GTA 6 is built around systems interacting with one another.

A player can steal a car that happens to be low on fuel, run out of petrol while escaping police, have officers identify the vehicle and their clothing, change cars or outfits to escape detection, sell the stolen vehicle and then use the money earned to help progress through the campaign.

Likewise, an ordinary store robbery can change depending on how an employee reacts, whether a key is left behind, whether the player has the correct tools and whether anyone manages to report the crime.

Rockstar's ambition appears to be less about creating isolated features and more about allowing all of these mechanics to collide with one another, producing situations that neither the player nor the developers necessarily planned in advance.

Sources

• Flow Games – Exclusivo: vimos GTA 6 de perto e o salto é o maior já visto
• Flow Games – Davy Jones viu GTA 6 sendo jogado de perto por mais de 2 horas
• Flow Games – GTA 6 rodará em 30 FPS em todos os consoles
• Flow Games – GTA 6 terá combustível e recarga de carros elétricos
• Flow Games – GTA 6 tem nível de realismo entre GTA 5 e Red Dead Redemption 2
• Flow Games – GTA 6 limitará armas e usará porta-malas como arsenal
• Flow Games – GTA 6 vai ter violência gráfica explícita (gore)?
• Flow Games – GTA 6 terá mergulho, naufrágios e tesouros no mar
• Flow Games – Celular de GTA 6 mudará conforme história avança