GTA 6 and the RAGE 9 engine: the graphics explained

Grand Theft Auto VI uses the latest iteration of Rockstar's in-house graphics engine, often called RAGE 9. This major technological leap delivers impressive photorealism, spectacular lighting and a physics engine capable of handling an open world with a level of density never before seen in the industry.

🟢 [Official] What Rockstar Games has confirmed

The first trailer's footage, captured using the game's engine (in-engine), sets a new standard for the current console generation (PS5 / Xbox Series):

• Crowd management: The beach sequences and wild gatherings show dozens of NPCs simultaneously, each with varied body types, clothing and animations.
• Water and fluid rendering: The ocean, waves and swamp mud benefit from ultra-realistic physics, essential for a water-heavy map like Leonida.
• Hair and clothing physics: Lucia's hair and that of various NPCs react dynamically to wind and movement, putting rigid textures behind us.

The visuals in trailer 1 are not pre-rendered cinematics, but the actual game being rendered in action.

🟡 [Analysis / Credible leaks] Ray tracing and global illumination

Technical experts (such as Digital Foundry) who have broken down GTA 6 footage highlight several achievements of version 9 of the RAGE engine:

• Ray-Traced Global Illumination (RTGI): Reflections on vehicle bodywork, shadows cast by neon lights at night and the way light spreads through interiors suggest extensive use of ray tracing.
• Close-up detail: From peeling paint on old vehicles to imperfections in characters' skin, the level of texture detail has increased dramatically.

⚪ [Rumors / Theories] The 30 or 60 FPS dilemma on consoles

The question on players' minds concerns performance on home consoles:

• Sacrificing 60 FPS? With such population density and demanding physics calculations, many believe the game will run at a steady 30 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X at launch, prioritizing a richly detailed world over maximum smoothness.
• Performance mode: Some hope a 60 FPS “Performance” mode will be offered (by reducing resolution or ray-tracing effects), although previous Rockstar games (RDR 2 and GTA V at launch) did not provide this choice.