After years of waiting, Rockstar has finally given fans a proper look at perhaps the most anticipated title of the year, Grand Theft Auto VI, with its first extended gameplay look showcasing the relationship between protagonists Jason and Lucia, combat, and the game’s suite of open-world activities.
The hefty 26-minute-long trailer opens with a bang, as it sees the pair taking on what seems to be a simple collection mission, only for things to go wrong and force them into a shootout with the cops. The game features the familiar cover-shooting formula seen in past Rockstar titles, with its in-game UI paying homage to the one seen in 2008’s Grand Theft Auto IV.
Outside of the action, Grand Theft Auto VI will focus heavily on the relationship between its “Bonnie and Clyde” protagonists, with players able to swap between them freely while exploring the open world or during missions. Set in Vice City, the game will have no shortage of things for players to do during their downtime, with the trailer showcasing activities like racing, basketball, wrestling, scuba diving, or even going to the gym to build their fitness.
Much like past games, players can choose to take part in petty crimes such as robbing convenience stores, with the trailer teasing a system that allows them to put on a mask or switch their outfits in real-time, similar to the one seen in Red Dead Redemption 2. In fact, Grand Theft Auto VI looks to be taking many cues from Rockstar’s 2018 title, with the game also featuring real-time interaction with NPCs, as well as an honour system depending on their actions.
During main missions, the game seems to give players the freedom of choice when it comes to deciding which character to play as, with the trailer teasing seamless character switching even in the heat of a shootout, as Jason and Lucia storm a high-rise building from different levels. A scene in the trailer shows a car chase between the pair and the police, with players able to swap between Lucia, who is at the wheel, and Jason, who can lean out of the backseat to take shots at the pursuing cops.
Through it all, the trailer also showcases the beauty of Vice City, with the game featuring more photorealistic lighting compared to past titles, and different regions to explore, from bustling cities to damp swamps. Unfortunately, it looks like the game might be locked to 30FPS at launch across all consoles, and it doesn’t look like it will include a first-person mode like its predecessor either.
Grand Theft Auto VI will launch on 19 November 2026 for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
