Red Dead Redemption 2 is unarguably one of the most immersive video game titles to date and it's clear to see Rockstar left no stone unturned with attention to detail.
Slow, deliberate actions when looting or crafting allowed players to feel truly connected to Arthur Morgan and it fit perfectly with the more gradual and steady pacing of the game - but would this level of realism suit GTA 6 (especially considering the rapid pace of its predecessor)?
A need for speed
By nature, GTA V is a pretty non-stop experience, and the implementation of slow, but realistic, animations for common activities such as entering vehicles, picking up guns, or even eating would seriously hinder its pace - entirely changing the style of play.
Whilst such levels of realism were welcomed in Red Dead Redemption 2 - allowing players to feel grounded in its world, it's not a formula that can be applied to every single of Rockstar's games.
A balance between GTAV's unbelievable speeds and the somewhat sluggish actions of Red Dead Redemption 2 could be the perfect pacing for GTA6 - a game that will no doubt provide immense graphical realism at the very least.
Craft, craft, craft
To stay alive and be at peak performance in Red Dead Redemption 2, cooking food on a daily basis and managing your diet was important - but in the non-stop worlds of GTA is such realism too much? Would players want to need to remember having to prepare meals and carry enough supplies to keep their character going during every second of action?
On the one hand, living out so much of Arthur Morgan's life allowed players to feel truly immersed within the game's world, but on the other - after hours and hours of playtime these actions became too repetitive and unwanted by some.
Yet again, GTA 6 will undoubtedly continue to push boundaries in gaming (many of which were already extended to unimaginable lengths by Red Dead Redemption 2) and ideas of immersion will be at the forefront of this project - but to what extent does the GTA franchise suit such levels of realism?
The endless armory
Perhaps one of GTA V's most notable features is the ability to access any weapon at any time with your character. Unlike in Red Dead Redemption 2 where only 2 primary weapons can be equipped at any one time, GTA V allows players to pick any weapon of their choice from an enormous weapon wheel.
Both methods have their benefits - the careful selection of weaponry in Red Dead Redemption 2 makes gunfights feel more authentic, but being able to cycle through seemingly endless weapons during fights in GTA V creates exciting and diverse gameplay.
If GTA 6 attempts to create another highly immersive experience, being able to pluck a rocket launcher out of thin air, just like in its predecessor, would hardly seem fitting - but would restricting active weapons to just a handful at a time make gameplay feel too clunky?
Lessons to be learned
Red Dead Redemption 2 set incredibly high standards for immersive open worlds and Rockstar Games will no doubt be looking at their previous work when drawing inspiration for GTA 6.
Graphically, it's easy to imagine GTA 6 will benefit highly from the work on Red Dead Redemption 2's perfectly crafted landscapes and character models - but in terms of gameplay, it's less straightforward.
In 1899, the world moved at a far slower pace than that of the modern-day. The world of Red Dead is simplistic and often calm - the same cannot be said for the bustling cities of the GTA franchise where everything moves far, far faster.
The levels of immersion in Red Dead Redemption 2 certainly opened many players' eyes to a new style of gameplay, but will a title such as GTA 6 benefit from such levels?
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
