GTA 6 is Rockstar's upcoming blockbuster and will arguably be the biggest game release of all time. The only developer capable of surpassing it is likely Rockstar itself, unless another studio with unlimited resources and veteran talent somehow steps in.
To truly set the bar as high as possible, GTA 6 needs to introduce several key gameplay changes. These changes will be crucial in making it feel like a genuine next-gen experience. Without them, the game risks feeling a little too familiar to its predecessors.
The hype surrounding GTA 6 is already at an all-time high and will likely stay that way no matter what. At this point, nothing seems capable of slowing it down. However, Rockstar should not just aim to meet that hype; it should strive to exceed fans' expectations by a mile.
With that in mind, there are at least nine gameplay changes I believe GTA 6 needs, which I will break down below.
Hair Growth System
If you have played what is considered one of the most influential and best video games of all time, Red Dead Redemption 2, you would already know about its hair growth system. In RDR2, if you do not give Arthur a haircut, his hair will continue to grow naturally over time.
This feature adds a huge amount to the realistic vibe of the game, and it absolutely needs to be in the upcoming GTA. No GTA entry has ever featured a proper hair growth system like the one introduced in RDR2. Now Rockstar can take advantage of that and bring it to its magnum opus, which would 100 percent improve the experience for me.
The way GTA 5 handled hairstyles never sat right with me. Walking into a salon and magically growing long hair or changing styles instantly felt unnatural. Having your character grow long hair and a massive beard over time should be the default, and trimming or styling it at a barber would add much more to the immersion.
Of course, not everything in GTA 6 has to be fully realistic. Rockstar will no doubt add its own creative spin. But this is one feature I would absolutely love to see in-game, and I think it would make the world feel even more alive.
Refueling Vehicles
This may be a hot take, but I would absolutely love it if GTA 6 allowed you to refuel your vehicles. I get that it might not be for everyone, and that is completely fair. Still, gas stations in GTA 5 never made sense to me. Why are they even there if they serve no real purpose?
I am a sucker for immersive features like this, so being able to refuel would mean a lot to me. It would even add a layer of planning to the game. For example, if you are preparing for a long ride, you could fuel up in advance rather than risk running out in the middle of nowhere.
And if your car does run out of gas, it should be possible to siphon fuel from other vehicles. Otherwise, it might become frustrating to be stranded far from the city
Since gas stations also include tire shops, Rockstar could expand the idea even further. Tires can already be punctured in GTA games, but in GTA 5, this mostly happens from gunfire.
It would be much cooler if debris on the road could rarely cause punctures, forcing you to replace a tire at a shop instead of magically repairing the whole car at a garage. Little touches like that would go a long way in making the world feel more grounded.
More Realistic Cops
I have already written about this in an opinion piece, but it is worth repeating: having more realistic cops in GTA 6 would be a complete game-changer for the franchise. In every GTA game so far, the police AI has been extremely basic. No matter what crime you commit, their default reaction is to open fire, which has always felt strange to me.
Smarter and more realistic cops would make a huge difference. Imagine officers who use better tactics instead of mindlessly shooting, or even the option to bribe cops to look the other way. That small detail alone would instantly make the world feel more alive.
Now take it a step further. What if police behavior varied depending on the region or precinct you were in? What if high-ranking officers reacted differently from rookies? These kinds of changes would add a level of detail that very few developers could hope to match.
If Rockstar pulls it off, smarter and more realistic cops could easily become one of the standout features of GTA 6 and a benchmark for open-world AI going forward.
More Refined Character Movements And Controls
I will be honest here. I have never been a fan of the character movements and controls in most Rockstar games, with the exception of Max Payne 3. In almost every GTA entry, the movement has always felt a little clunky. Not everyone will agree, but I know I am not alone in feeling this way.
Even in Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar struggled to deliver smooth character controls. The ragdoll physics were impressive, but the animations did not always blend realistically with the environment.
In more recent Rockstar titles, movement has often felt unnecessarily heavy and sluggish, which directly affected the gunplay. Do not get me wrong, I absolutely loved the gunplay in RDR2. However, the sluggish controls held it back, especially when playing with a controller. If you were indeed playing Red Dead Redemption 2 with a controller, then my friend, you have my condolences.
That is why Rockstar needs to bring its A-game for GTA 6. Movement and controls should feel far more fluid and responsive this time around. Max Payne 3 still stands as the studio's best example of polished gameplay, but GTA 6 needs to surpass even that. If Rockstar gets it right, it could completely transform how players experience its open worlds.
Better Physics
Another thing I desperately want Rockstar to change in its upcoming title is the physics. This area has massive room for improvement, and GTA 4 can be taken as inspiration.
GTA 4 still stands tall as one of the best examples of physics in any open-world game. Liberty City felt alive not only because of its atmosphere, but because the world believably reacted to you.
GTA 4's physics were ahead of their time, but Rockstar failed to incorporate and improve them in newer games, which is extremely disappointing. GTA 5, for example, had great driving and smoother gameplay overall, but the physics system felt watered down compared to GTA 4.
Cars were lighter, collisions lacked impact, and the ragdoll system, while still fun, did not carry the same weight or unpredictability that made GTA 4 so memorable.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is in the same boat. While the game boasts impressive visuals, its physics often feel sluggish. That is exactly why GTA 6 needs to be better.
Co-op Story Mode in GTA 6
Having a co-op story mode in GTA 6 would be a dream come true, especially since the game already features two protagonists. I always wished GTA 5 had this option so I could play the campaign with my friends, but sadly, it never happened. That's why I would absolutely love for Rockstar to finally make it a reality in the next instalment.
Of course, this doesn't need to be a mandatory feature, but even as an optional mode, it could add so much value. Imagine one player taking control of Jason while the other plays as Lucia, working together during missions and having each other's back. Experiencing the story like that would be unforgettable.
Melee Combat
The melee combat in almost every single GTA game is trash, and I stand by this. Rockstar has never really focused on it, and that makes me sad. I think the upcoming game should take inspiration from the best, like Sleeping Dogs, The Last of Us Part 2, and the entire Yakuza and Judgment series.
Obviously, there's no need to add fully refined martial arts, but given how Jason looks, boxing would suit him perfectly. A more grounded yet impactful combat system would finally make melee fights in GTA feel exciting instead of something you just mash through.
More Realistic Damage And Injury System
As I have already talked about how the gameplay and physics system should be completely changed, I think the damage and injury system should be updated as well. An injury from a gunshot, a melee weapon, a fist fight, or even a car accident should all have different impacts and reactions.
These injuries should realistically hinder the character's movement. For example, if the right or left foot is broken, it should be harder for the character to drive and press the gas. Also, if the injury is serious, it should require proper treatment in a hospital instead of being brushed off instantly.
Improved Car Customisation and Wear & Tear
GTA 6 should definitely have a lot of customisation options for cars. GTA 5 already did a great job in this area, so I won’t complain too much, but what I really want to see is a proper wear and tear system. Instead of just cosmetic upgrades, cars could actually show signs of aging over time.
Engines might break down if you push them too hard, paint could fade, and detailed customisation would make vehicles feel more personal.
If you drive recklessly, there should be real consequences, which would be both fun and frustrating at the same time. Still, I think this feature should be optional for players, since not everyone would want to deal with it.
What do you think about the gameplay changes I’ve discussed? Would you like to see any of these in GTA 6, or do you have your own ideas for how Rockstar could improve the game? Let’s have a chat in the comments section below.