GTA 6: 69 details about Jason, Lucia and the open world

A public presentation complemented by an exclusive demo

IGN published an extensive preview of GTA 6 after visiting Rockstar North. The outlet attended a live gameplay demonstration lasting around 30 minutes and spoke with Rob Nelson, the studio's co-head. Journalists did not play this session themselves: it was demonstrated to them on site.

It is important to distinguish this private demonstration from the “Extended Look,” the detailed presentation released publicly. IGN explains that its information comes both from that public video and from what was shown exclusively at Rockstar. As the source does not always attribute each detail to one presentation or the other, the points below should be understood as a synthesis of IGN's entire preview.

Rob Nelson notably describes the map as “very large,” without providing an area or numerical comparison. More broadly, Rockstar presents GTA 6 as an advance in every area, with a world built around numerous details and interactions.

Jason and Lucia can act together or separately

1. As in GTA 5, players will be able to switch between Jason and Lucia while exploring, with switching available as often as possible but disabled at certain story moments.

2. When a character is alone, they can call or text the other to ask them to join.

3. Together, they can take part in activities, commit crimes or simply spend time with each other.

4. In a car, players can switch seats, let their partner drive and enjoy the radio.

5. During a chase, the passenger can handle the shooting.

6. Their relationship will be an optional system: the romance suggested at the beginning will depend on player choices and time spent together outside the main missions.

7. Exploring Leonida, shopping, visiting the hairdresser, working out or planning robberies will strengthen their bond.

8. Romance will offer no gameplay advantage: the two protagonists can remain platonic partners.

9. Their level of closeness may nevertheless influence how their story unfolds.

10. More subtle interactions are planned, such as holding hands or holding a door open.

11. Regularly ignoring certain personal messages — a reminder to lock the house, for example — can negatively affect their relationship.

More lively safehouses and characters who evolve

12. Jason and Lucia can share a safehouse while each following their own schedule.

13. These locations would be closer to Red Dead Redemption 2's camps than traditional GTA properties.

14. Other characters can drop by, and one of the residences shown to IGN even belonged to someone else.

15. Safehouses will allow hair and beard maintenance, while new styles remain exclusive to salons and barbers.

16. Clothing stores and salons will offer exclusive items depending on their location, encouraging exploration.

17. Each protagonist can own several personal vehicles.

18. Trunks will be functional and can carry weapons or a change of clothes.

19. The gym will increase muscle and strength, while excessive eating will cause weight gain.

20. Eating will provide a substantial health boost, and these activities can be done alone or as a couple.

An open world built on observation and encounters

21. Every Leonida district will have a population and architecture suited to its local culture.

22. The pause-menu map will use a satellite representation, more detailed than the simplified maps of previous GTA games.

23. Not every mission or encounter will have an icon: some will emerge through conversations and events.

24. IGN mentions a shady lawyer based in a dumpster who may provide legal advice in exchange for pills.

25. NPCs can be greeted, antagonized or calmed through an evolution of Red Dead Redemption 2's system.

26. They will notice if Jason or Lucia persistently eavesdrops on them or follows them for too long.

27. An ambient conversation can lead to an activity.

28. The AI-controlled partner can spontaneously suggest a job or a detour.

29. Residents will have a wider variety of body types and heights.

30. Animations will dynamically adapt to their build to maintain believable interactions.

31. Pool and mini-golf are among the announced activities.

32. Kayaking and scuba diving will be possible.

33. Skydiving will be available.

34. The gym will be among the playable activities.

35. Visiting a zoo will be possible.

36. Animals can be studied and added to a list, following a model derived from Red Dead Redemption 2.

37. Dogs can be petted or scolded.

38. The phone will be a real object integrated into the world rather than just an interface in the corner of the screen.

39. Snapmatic will return, but posting will not be possible: Jason and Lucia can only view content and follow accounts, to avoid leaving a digital trail.

40. A taxi app named Ryde Me will enable fast travel.

Find more of our roundups in the GTA 6 news section and categorized information in our database.

Police must first identify suspects

41. The wanted system will only begin if a witness reports the crime or an alarm is triggered.

42. Police will then receive specific information and head to the relevant area.

43. This area can remain active on the map after suspects have escaped.

44. Six wanted stars will return, compared with five in GTA 5.

45. One star should remain relatively easy to shake off, while the highest level will bring back the chaotic escapes associated with the series.

46. In the city, narrow streets, dense traffic and crowds will make chases more difficult from three stars onward.

47. Escaping on foot will benefit from reworked running, jumping and climbing movements.

48. Police can remember a suspect's physical appearance.

49. They can also remember their entire outfit.

50. The vehicle used can also be identified.

51. The fact that Jason and Lucia are operating as a pair can be reported.

52. Changing hairstyle will clear physical identification, but not clothing identification.

53. Glasses or a hat will not be enough: a completely different outfit will be required.

54. Wearing a mask during a crime and then removing it can prevent a description from being passed on, even when cameras are present.

55. An identified vehicle must be abandoned, and the protagonists can split up to divert attention, with one potentially keeping the police pressure on themselves.

56. Stars shown only as outlines will indicate that police do not yet know what the suspect looks like.

57. Confrontations will not always be lethal: aiming at an arm, leg or the opponent's weapon can neutralize them without killing.

58. Some situations can be defused without firing a shot.

More structured robberies, money and car theft

59. Money will carry more weight: certain main-story stages will require players to raise a set amount before continuing.

60. Income will come from burglaries, store and bank robberies, and stealing and selling vehicles.

61. Jobs can be carried out alone or as a duo, regularly creating a trade-off between speed and profit.

62. Blowing up a safe will be quicker but may damage its contents, while searching for the combination will yield more money at the risk of being surrounded.

63. Several locations will offer alternative exits.

64. Stolen goods must be handed to specialist fences, including cars.

65. The WAINK app can scan a vehicle to reveal its value, registration cost, locking system, alarm or whether it has a tracker.

66. Models will be divided into security tiers: a simple tool will be enough for an old car, while a key cloner will be needed for a luxury model.

67. Carjacking an occupied car will work as it did in previous games.

68. A damaged car will be worth less to a fence.

69. Some trackers will alert police if the driver travels too slowly, forcing players to maintain a certain speed or abandon the vehicle.

GTA 6 robbery image

Choices connecting story and exploration

GTA 6 will feature decisions of varying significance. Some minor choices can accumulate, while others will immediately cause major changes. Rockstar hopes this will encourage multiple playthroughs.

During the exclusive demonstration, IGN says it saw a mission in a tower with several escape routes, a sequence offering a choice between driving and shooting from the passenger seat, and a chase suggesting an optimal route without forcing players to use it.

The “criminal profile” will also affect how the world reacts and potentially the story. Unlike honor in Red Dead Redemption 2, it will not rely on a clearly defined opposition between good and evil. Unnecessary violence, excessive chaos or, conversely, certain civic-minded actions such as disposing of litter can change it. Actions required by a mission or robbery will not necessarily affect it.

Finally, Rockstar intends to retain its satire without relying too heavily on memes, specific political topics or overly contemporary slang that could age during the long development process. The stated goal is to bring the main missions, free-roam activities and the two heroes' identities closer together. For a deeper look at the systems already known about, also check our GTA 6 guides and our frequently asked questions section.