Grand Theft Auto 6is set for release next fall, and the anticipation has been mounting. Rockstar’s long-running crime franchise has become one of the biggest names in gaming, andGTA 6is already in line to be the biggest release of 2025. As excitement continues to grow for the game, many are wondering how it will stack up against its predecessor.
Despite being 11 years old,GTA 5is still praised as a great open world action game. From the story to the three protagonists, Michael, Franklin, and Trevor,GTA 5brought explosive action to the forefront. TheGTAfranchise is known for being a cinematic experience, andGTA 5definitely did not hold back. Larger-than-life crimes were rampant throughout the game’s story, and although it madeGTA 5a jaw-dropping experience,GTA 6may better benefit from taking a step back from the theatrics.
GTA 6 Focusing On a More Grounded Crime Story
Bringing the Harsh Reality of a Life of Crime Into Focus
All that is known aboutGTA 6comes from its short announcement trailer. Other than that, pretty much everything else is speculation. However, the trailer at least gives some potential insight into what the game’s story will be about, and it hints at a more grounded look at crime.GTA 5boasted exploding helicopters and high-speed chases to recover stolen yachts. This was an over-the-top story that reflected the LA-inspired city of Los Santos. When it comes toGTA 6, though, it seems likeprotagonists Lucia and Jasonmay be leading a more realistic tale.
Inspired by Bonnie and Clyde, Lucia and Jason are shown throughout the trailer committing a series of robberies, with the former seemingly taking charge. Shots of the presumed couple driving past cops in a getaway car while Lucia handles a wad of cash suggest thattheir story in Vice Citystarts at the bottom. Furthermore, a shot of the duo robbing what appears to be a liquor store adds more weight to this possibility. Although some may be hoping thatGTA 6features even more chaos and mayhem, it doesn’t look like that is the case, and it’s refreshing.
Recent rumors thatGTA 6is being pushed back to 2026 have been debunked by Rockstar employees.
GTA 6is already subverting expectations and evolving. Not only is the game featuring its first female protagonist in Lucia, but the Bonnie and Clyde angle is rife with narrative possibilities. There are plenty oftheories aboutGTA 6’s main characters, but a focus on petty crimes, at least at the beginning, seems to be a major fixture in the game. A more realistic look into what a life of crime can really be would be an exciting turn from its predecessor. The gritty and needless violence that follows small-time heists and getaways is a compelling angle to explore.
GTA 6 Beginning a New Era For Rockstar’s Franchise
Based on the trailer alone, it is clear thatGTA 6has improved since the days ofGTA 5. Rockstar’s last release,Red Dead Redemption 2,was a huge departure fromGTA 5, as the former opted for a far more grounded and emotional story.GTA 6could be taking inspiration from both Rockstar hits. The trailer shows that Lucia and Jasonrevel in Vice City’s nightlifeat some point in their journey.GTA 6could give its protagonists a humble beginning of petty thievery inspired byRed Dead Redemption 2, while their rise to prominence in the city can mirrorGTA 5.
IfGTA 6steps away from the Hollywood-style explosive nature ofGTA 5, that will ultimately be okay. The game needs to set itself apart from its predecessor, especially with such high hopes surrounding it. Althoughthere isn’t anything set in stone forGTA 6and its release, it seems like a given that Rockstar is taking a fresh approach.
Grand Theft Auto 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.
