Concrete news about GTA VI is still lacking for now, so we are left to speculate and hope.
The latest installment of Rockstar‘s biggest franchise was released in 2013. And in 2014. And in 2015. Oh, and also in 2022. However, these were all updates and enhanced versions of the Grand Theft Auto V that we already knew. Based on some leaked footage and numerous rumors, we know that we will return to Vice City in the sixth installment. We also know that we will be able to switch between the male and female characters, Jason and Lucia. But that’s about all we have to go on.
Fortunately, in 2018, we did get a completely new Rockstar game in the form of Red Dead Redemption 2. The Wild West action-shooter is considered by many as one of the greatest games ever made. The vibrant open world and the realistically portrayed characters were particularly praised. With Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA VI has a beautiful pond to fish from, although there are also some rotten fish in there that they would be better off avoiding.
Here are 5 things that GTA VI can steal from Red Dead Redemption 2, and 5 things that it can improve upon.
Worth Stealing #1: A Captivating Story
Red Dead Redemption 2 impressed with its human, emotional story. It took some time to get off the ground, but once the locomotive started, it didn’t slow down. Rockstar took its time to introduce the characters and their lives. Authenticity is crucial for creating a believable story, and the reality is that life is not all non-stop action and excitement.
All the characters were convincingly brought to life through exceptional voice acting. The downfall of the Van der Linde gang unfolded painfully before your eyes. The struggles of the protagonist, Arthur Morgan, became your own struggles.
All of this stands in sharp contrast to the stories of Grand Theft Auto. Particularly, GTA V had a disappointing and superficial storyline. Earlier games in the series, like GTA: San Andreas and GTA IV, had more plot twists, tension, and well-developed characters. This didn’t come at the expense of the humorous and lighter atmosphere the games are known for, proving that these aspects can be successfully combined.
Hopefully, with GTA VI, Rockstar can deliver a story like what we saw in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Improve Upon #1: Gameplay
There is room for improvement in terms of gameplay. While the story and open world of Red Dead Redemption 2 were incredibly immersive, the gameplay sometimes felt like a mere interruption to progress the story.
The shooting mechanics lacked innovation and felt like a copy of previous GTA installments. Headshots were too easy to execute, and the animations for getting in and out of cover were too slow, resulting in frustrating and unnecessary damage at times.
Furthermore, the mission gameplay lacked diversity. It often boiled down to “go from point A to point B, shoot some people, mission accomplished.” There was little flexibility in the missions. In GTA V, at least, you had the option to choose how to approach certain missions. This added more engagement and replayability.
GTA VI would benefit from making gunplay more rewarding and varying the mission structure to keep players on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Worth Stealing #2: An Amazing Main Character
Unfortunately, this one cannot be directly stolen. But in my opinion, RDR2’s Arthur Morgan is the best game character ever created. He had depth, an interesting backstory, made believable decisions, and had a great sense of humor.
Additionally, he underwent a fascinating and complex character development. As a player, you felt connected to his fate, which greatly contributed to the captivating story.
If we draw a parallel to Grand Theft Auto, GTA IV’s protagonist Niko Bellic comes closest. Unfortunately, the characters in GTA V lacked the depth and believability mentioned above. The points of “An Amazing Main Character” and “Captivating Story” largely go hand in hand, so hopefully, Rockstar can bring their A-game once again for GTA VI.
Improve Upon #2: The Wanted System
The number of times I unintentionally incurred the wrath of the law in Red Dead Redemption 2 was countless. Granted, there were many moments when I deserved it. But sometimes, our Arthur would inexplicably point his gun at an innocent person, and then you were screwed (Arthur may have deserved it, but not me). The Pinkertons had never heard of self-defense. NPCs would sometimes have a short fuse and attack you, and then you would be seen as the culprit.
Afterward, you couldn’t stay in that area for a while without attracting the attention of the law. You had to go to a post office to pay your bounty or spend time in jail. No, in GTA VI, I would rather see the wanted system from GTA V return than one comparable to Red Dead Redemption 2’s system.
Worth Stealing #3: An Engaging Open World
In Red Dead Redemption 2, everything revolved around atmosphere and sense of time. Whether it was the members of the Van Der Linde gang themselves, the old-fashioned coaches, or the atmospheric bars; it pulled you into the world and didn’t let go.
NPCs around you lived their own lives. They ate, drank (and even got drunk), worked, and hunted. Environments were more than just a backdrop. Throughout the game, you could see construction projects starting, buildings being established, and completed.
You could enter houses that had nothing to do with the main story but had their own narrative. You could encounter bloody scenes, and it was up to your imagination to speculate what had taken place (or sometimes you could find information from letters left at the location).
Even the nature itself felt alive. The world was teeming with animals, some of which were seen hunting. In the numerous events scattered throughout the world, NPCs could get bitten by snakes or chased by wolves.
Previous GTA games also had events, but RDR2 took it a step further and made a significant leap. Rockstar will undoubtedly carry this forward into GTA VI.
Improve Upon #3: Magnetic Objects
Red Dead Redemption 2 featured certain objects that had a magnetic effect on your horse, causing your faithful steed to sometimes sprint straight into the nearest (and biggest) tree it could find. The same applied to oncoming carriages or pedestrians. Busy cities like Saint-Denis became a minefield as a result.
This aspect, combined with the annoying wanted system, sometimes led to unnecessary (and undeserved) frustration. In GTA VI, we certainly don’t want to smash our freshly stolen or customized vehicle. Avoiding NPCs is less important; they will inevitably face their unfortunate fate in GTA. In that case, a magnet might actually come in handy.
Worth Stealing #4: Dynamic Hair/Beard Growth
The dynamic hair and beard growth was a unique feature in Red Dead Redemption 2. It may seem like a small detail, but in my opinion, it’s a feature that should be included in every game that spans a longer period of time.
The fact that Arthur’s hair and beard grew not only added realism and styling options but also provided a simple way to enhance replayability. Customizing characters always adds a certain motivation for me to replay games, to see my styled character in different ways in cutscenes and gameplay.
The dynamic hair growth in RDR2 offered many possibilities to customize Arthur. His beard even grew in different areas (mustache, chops, chin) and could be individually trimmed to a certain length.
I believe it’s almost a given for Rockstar to implement this in GTA VI as well. However, they might want to consider excluding the beard growth mechanic for Lucia.
Improve Upon #4: Money Management
This point can actually be made for almost any game. In the beginning, you often struggle to get by, but after a few missions, you’re swimming in money and money management is no longer an issue. On one hand, it’s nice for players to be able to buy whatever they want, but I would like to work harder for it. This naturally leads to a greater sense of reward when you complete a mission and can afford what you’ve been saving for.
When you have to work a bit harder for your virtual money, it becomes easier for developers to make side activities more valuable and interesting.
Of course, Grand Theft Auto is about climbing the criminal ladder, and it’s expected that you end up with a hefty sum of money. But it would be welcome if wealth comes a bit later in the game, at least later than in Red Dead Redemption 2 and many other examples.
Worth Stealing #5: Antagonize/Greet
Aahh…the delightful “Greet, greet, ANTAGONIZE.” In Red Dead Redemption, you could approach anyone, and I mean absolutely anyone. Whether you wanted to strike up a conversation with your campmates or with strangers on the street, it was all possible. You had the choice to be friendly, or to be a bully.
During conversations, you had three different moments to either choose the friendly greet or the teasing antagonize. This allowed for variation between the two, resulting in hilarious exchanges. For example:
Arthur Morgan: “You know, you look just like a lady I once knew.”
NPC: “Oh.”
Arthur Morgan: “Yeah…I loved that horse.”
Or:
Arthur Morgan: “I like you, mister, you have a kind face.”
…
Arthur Morgan: “The kind I like to punch.”
Both dialogues can be found from 1:30 in Strange Man’s YouTube video ‘100 Funniest Antagonistic Lines’.
Hopefully, GTA VI will also serve us these entertaining dialogues. It adds interaction with the world around you, which contributes to point 3 of the ‘Steal’ list.
Improve Upon #5: The Online Mode
If there’s one thing that Red Dead Redemption 2 received a lot of criticism for, it’s the online mode. GTA V has been thriving on its online mode since its release in 2013, which has been actively maintained, updated, and expanded over the years. As a result, there’s a lot to do, and the mode is still incredibly popular 10 years after its release.
How different it is in Red Dead Online. Fans have never been happy with the lack of content available in the online world. Additionally, the mode was very unstable, and connection issues were a daily occurrence, especially in the beginning.
The online mode had bad balance, and players could gain unfair advantages with certain items. Furthermore, the mode heavily relies on grinding and doesn’t offer enough rewards to justify the repetitive activities.
Rockstar will undoubtedly stick to the successful concept of GTA V’s online mode. It has proven to be an absolute cash cow for the developer, and they would be foolish not to stick with something so successful.
Are there things in Red Dead Redemption 2 that you hope to see in GTA VI? Or that you definitely don’t want to see? Let me know in the comments!
