Rockstar Games revealed new details about Grand Theft Auto VI during a 26-minute livestream event on Netflix called Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look. The presentation showcased gameplay, cutscenes, and mechanics for the sequel, which arrives thirteen years after the series' last entry. The event follows a week of leaks and story spoilers from the hacker group Cyberleek, which Rockstar called heartbreaking. A separate report from British magazine Dazed, published the day before the event, detailed the game's level of realism and character control options.
The livestream featured the game's two main characters, Lucia and Jason, navigating Vice City, the game's fictional version of Miami. Players can control both characters simultaneously, with the ability to switch between them during sequences such as car chases, where one can drive while the other shoots. The pair are described as a Bonnie-and-Clyde-esque couple working through relationship tension, and according to Dazed, player actions can affect how that relationship evolves over time.
Character customization is a major focus, with eating, diet, and working out affecting the weight and physique of both protagonists. A wider array of clothing options is present, some of which Rockstar coordinated with real-life fashion designers. The game also includes minigames for eating and exercising, building on features from older titles like GTA San Andreas and GTA V.
Non-playable characters appear more interactive and responsive than in past games. Rockstar has a dedicated studio in Los Angeles working on pedestrian behavior alone, according to Dazed. In the extended look, NPCs were shown wearing yoga outfits and riding scooters, with chases avoiding running them over. The game also features a dog in at least one scene, and players can pet it.
Driving has seen notable improvements, including a minimap that resembles a real GPS interface. A police chase demonstrated that shooting out tires can flip vehicles and cause environmental destruction, and one scene showed a character slamming a cop through a wall, hinting at more destructible indoor environments. Vice City and its surrounding areas are described as massive, with options to fanboat through the Everglades, kayak, scuba dive, and jet ski. One scene features a livestreaming influencer being accidentally kidnapped and carried through the chase, with many characters using phones for communication, suggesting satirical takes on social media.
The event did not show new user-creation capabilities, though Rockstar purchased the modding marketplace Cfx in 2023 and reworked it into an official platform for user-created mods. The game鈥檚 online mode will also include a Mission Creator allowing custom levels. The extended look focused on the single-player experience, with multiplayer elements presumably to be introduced later.
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