GTA 6 Borrows From RDR2 But It Must Preserve An Arcade Style

GTA 6 is now confirmed to be doing things very differently from its predecessors, taking plenty of clues from Rockstar Games’ critically acclaimed work on Red Dead Redemption 2.

However, any fan of either IP will tell you that both are fundamentally different franchises that focus on very different things. While GTA has always been about the frenetic and hectic nature of Rockstar Games’ open-world sandbox, Red Dead Redemption 2 presents more of an immersive experience that encourages players to take things slow.

This key difference means that while both franchises can have similarities, they also have very distinct identities. With GTA 6 borrowing more than a few elements from Red Dead Redemption 2, I firmly believe that Rockstar Games needs to ensure it doesn’t overdo the game’s realism and simulation elements.

GTA Has Always Been About The Fun of Gaming

Grand Theft Auto has always been satirical in nature, meaning that much of its content borders on entering fictional territory.

This is precisely why over-the-top characters like Trevor work so well in the series. There’s an element of heavy suspension of disbelief at work in each Grand Theft Auto title that complements the series’ characters and writing.

For instance, consider how the police in Grand Theft Auto are willing to send entire tanks and helicopters to capture a single criminal going on a rampage. Even gameplay elements like robberies and heists feature sequences that one would find in action movies.

Nothing highlights this philosophy better than GTA Online, with the game going as far as including flying vehicles, laser weapons, etc. This is, of course, very different from how Red Dead Redemption 2 approaches things. 

Even a small robbery in Red Dead Redemption 2 can lead to major consequences, and because of the game’s setting, the title doesn’t take too many creative liberties with how it portrays the law and its characters.

The Slower Pace of Red Dead Redemption 2

To understand why Rockstar Games can’t simply borrow parts of Red Dead Redemption 2 for GTA 6, look no further than the game feel.

Arthur feels sluggish to control, aiming in the game requires a lot more precision, and even an act as simple as picking up a few objects requires going through lengthy scripted animations throughout the story.

Players must also take care of their horse, weapons, and consistently stock up on inventory items in case things go south. Additionally, Arthur can’t simply mow down waves of enemies on his own like Trevor or Michael can in GTA 5, further highlighting the contrast between Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption.

These differences are also highlighted in the maps of both GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. The former is set in a bustling recreation of Los Angeles, while the latter features a plethora of barren fields and open environments for players to trek through.

This means that simply lifting off and placing Red Dead Redemption 2 mechanics into GTA 6 would result in a fundamental mismatch. After all, you can’t have Jason or Lucia controlling like a tank when fighting off multiple cops and making a grand escape.

Similarly, GTA robberies can’t be intricate and slow-paced to the point where they kill the game’s entire momentum. The series must also maintain its classic style of satire, which would once again contrast with Red Dead Redemption 2’s realistic elements, and not in a good way.

Finding The Right Balance

What Rockstar Games must do, and we're sure they're aware of it, is to find a balance between parts of GTA and Red Dead Redemption 2.

The team has already confirmed that mechanics like “Greet and Antagonize,” weapon storage, and various other elements are being introduced in the Grand Theft Auto series for the first time with this entry.

This leaves us with the question of how Rockstar Games will balance these mechanics to fit them within the larger GTA universe. In my opinion, greeting and antagonizing NPCs in GTA 6 should lead to more than a few very interesting scenarios.

While NPCs were quite grounded in Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA 6’s characters should naturally be able to deliver significantly more varied and interesting responses through the system, even if they end up being bizarre at times.

Similarly, weapon storage should be less restrictive than in Red Dead Redemption 2. I don’t want to find myself having to constantly backtrack to my car to grab weapons, especially because GTA 6 will likely include a lot more vehicle traversal than Rockstar Games’ last release.

Also, Red Dead Redemption 2 players might recall how quickly horses ran out of stamina in the game during the initial few hours. GTA 6’s refueling system could lead to similar problems if cars consume too much fuel, something that could get in the way of player enjoyment. 

Balancing the other elements in a similar manner is equally important, since GTA 6 must walk a fine line between realism and arcade-based gameplay later this year.

GTA 6 Should Feel More Grand Theft Auto Than Red Dead Redemption

If you’ve followed any amount of GTA 6 coverage so far, you’ll know that Rockstar Games has talked a great deal about the game’s immersive nature.

Like Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA 6 is putting its world and characters front and center, meaning that the team is paying a lot of attention to detail, more so than it has done in the past. Some have even described how the detailed nature of the experience might make it uncomfortable for players to kill NPCs.

Whether all of this will work in the game’s favor remains to be seen, but I hope to see Rockstar Games ultimately preserve Grand Theft Auto’s unique identity with GTA 6. Just as many corrected disappointed Rockstar Games fans in 2018 and argued that Red Dead Redemption wasn’t GTA, it’s important to understand that GTA is also not Red Dead Redemption.

Diluting the Grand Theft experience in an attempt to bring it closer to Rockstar Games’ other big series will do little good. Ideally, the team will mould what worked in Red Dead Redemption 2 to fit those elements within the larger GTA universe.