GTA 6 is Packed with New Gameplay Systems to Make Exploration More Detailed and Rewarding

GTA 6 continues to reveal more of its gameplay systems as creators and media outlets who were able to get hands-on time with the game share new details from their experience at Rockstar HQ. Over the past few days, a steady stream of information has surfaced about how different parts of the game will work, including systems that were not shown in much detail during the game's previous footage. 

A large portion of the new information comes from detailed breakdowns shared by TGG, with GTA 6 updates compiling several of the main takeaways. Rather than focusing only on the major missions or traditional open-world activities, these details show how Rockstar is making smaller parts of the world more interactive. 

One of the more interesting additions is the way bus stops will work in GTA 6. 

You can actually use buses as a form of transportation, rather than simply seeing them as background vehicles moving around the city. When you wait for a bus, you can choose to experience the entire journey and potentially listen to conversations from other passengers along the way. 

Drive-throughs are also fully functional. When you pull up to one, you can order food and receive temporary stat boosts based on what you buy. Healthier meals can provide boosts to things such as health and strength, meaning food is not simply there as another cosmetic interaction.

GTA 6 also has the RideMe app, which works as the game's parody of services such as Uber or Lyft. You can request a driver through the app and use the service to travel around the map without having to drive yourself. Just like the bus system, you can experience the journey or skip it and reach your destination immediately, giving you another transportation option when you want to move around without spending time behind the wheel.

The game will also feature a zoo where you can visit and study different animals. Jason and Lucia can apparently visit the zoo together as a date, giving you another way to develop their relationship throughout the story. You can improve their relationship through different activities, and the zoo is one of the more peaceful options available. 

Convenience stores are receiving a major upgrade as well. Instead of simply walking inside and interacting with a basic shop interface, you can physically pick up items from shelves and purchase them in a way that is similar to Red Dead Redemption 2. 

This is another example of Rockstar bringing some of the more detailed interaction systems from Red Dead Redemption 2 into its next Grand Theft Auto game, giving ordinary locations more physical presence.

The HUD is also much more customizable than the footage initially suggested. 

The mini-map shown in the extended look appeared fairly simple, but you will apparently have more control over how much information it displays. The mini-map and cash information can appear temporarily, while you can also enable the classic always-on mini-map if you prefer that setup. 

The quick waypoint system makes navigation easier. Instead of having to pause the game, open the full map, and manually place a waypoint every time you want to travel somewhere, you can select points of interest directly from the world. 

For players who plan to create content around GTA 6, Rockstar is also including a streamer mode that can filter copyrighted music. This could be useful because the game appears to feature a substantial amount of licensed music, which can create problems for YouTube videos and livestreams. 

A photo mode similar to the one in Red Dead Redemption 2 is also returning. Alongside that, the cinematic mode from Red Dead Redemption 2 will reportedly be available, allowing you to view the world through cinematic camera angles while traveling. 

That could work particularly well when you are riding a bus or using the RideMe service because you can simply sit back and watch the environment around you without having to control the vehicle yourself.

Phones are another area where GTA 6 is taking immersion further. Jason and Lucia will physically look at their phones when using them rather than simply having a menu pop up on the screen. The devices will handle several different systems, including messaging, banking, social media, transportation, and fitness information. 

The social media system could be especially engaging because posts and videos you discover can reportedly lead you to actual locations and people in the game world. 

If you see a character posting a video from a particular building or location, you may be able to travel there yourself and find that person. You could then interact with them or see them performing the same activity that appeared in their post, creating a direct connection between the game's digital social media and its physical world.

The vehicle system is also receiving its own app called Wank, which provides information about cars you encounter. The app can tell you what kind of tool you need to break into a particular vehicle, whether you need something basic or a more advanced one. 

So vehicle ownership is more complex than just getting a car and keeping it forever. If you want the stolen vehicle to be your personal vehicle, you have to register it and pay the fee. This adds another layer to vehicle theft. You can consider the value of a car, the gear required to steal it, the possible sale price, and the cost of making it yours legally.

Character customization is getting some attention too, particularly when it comes to Jason's hair and beard. You can change his hairstyle and facial hair at safe houses, barbers, and salons, with different locations offering a variety of styles. 

However, his hair and beard will not naturally grow over time, meaning that if you begin the game with a buzz cut and a clean-shaven appearance, you will still have that look weeks later unless you manually change it.

NPC interactions are another area where GTA 6 appears to be taking inspiration from Red Dead Redemption 2. 

You can greet people or antagonize them, and their responses will change depending on how you interact with them. Reports also point to an enormous number of NPC interactions and animations, with around 600,000 different interactions and animations reportedly included in the game.

Jason and Lucia can also react to each other independently during free roam. During a Rockstar demonstration, a woman reportedly began shoving Jason following an interaction, prompting Lucia to step in and attack her without the player directly controlling her. 

NPC variety is being expanded as well. Characters will reportedly have a much wider range of heights compared with GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, helping make the population feel less repetitive. You should also see more variety in appearances and interactions, reducing the sense that you’re always seeing the same characters and hearing the same lines as you travel through the city.

There will reportedly be more pets throughout the world, along with a larger variety for you to encounter and interact with. It is another small feature, but it contributes to the broader idea behind GTA 6: even the less important parts of the world are being given systems that encourage you to stop, look around, and interact with them.

All of these details point toward a game with a much deeper level of interaction than what Rockstar has shown so far. You are not simply moving between missions in GTA 6; you can use public transportation, order food, visit a zoo, interact with stores, manage vehicles, customize characters, use social media, and discover people and locations through the world itself.

The most significant takeaway is how many of these systems appear to work together. Rockstar appears to be taking the immersion elements they introduced in Red Dead Redemption 2 and translating them to the much more modern and faster-paced setting of GTA 6.