As the studio has said many times, Rockstar doesn’t intend for Grand Theft Auto VI to be a full-fledged real-life simulator. After the gameplay was revealed in August, some players criticized the developers’ decision to add gas trucks, sleeping, and other elements to the game that could distract from the main gameplay. In a recent interview with LOVE magazine, the developers explained that they used realism to enhance immersion, but at the same time removed systems that started to interfere with gameplay.
Rockstar North development director Rob Nelson noted that the team is constantly seeking a balance between realism and convenience. He said that sometimes realistic behavior is needed for the sake of immersion, but sometimes realistic behavior must be given up for the benefit of the player. For example, initially the developers considered the possibility of adding a system for purchasing groceries and restocking the refrigerator for Jason and Lucia in GTA 6. But Rockstar found this system too complex and abandoned it.
At the same time, compared with the previous game, the family elements in “Grand Theft Auto VI” will be significantly increased:
- Jason and Lucia have to watch their sleep.
- The built-in health app shows the character’s rest status, and lack of sleep affects the recovery of certain statistics.
- Players must track their hero’s nutrition and physical health – when they eat too much, they gain weight, and if they don’t train regularly, they lose muscle mass.
- Cars need to be refueled and charged.
Realism extends to the behavior of others. If the protagonist walks out onto the street with a rifle, passers-by will react to the weapon even before he points it at anyone. The police may also notice such behavior. Rockstar attributes this to a desire to make the consequences of the characters’ actions more compelling.
GTA 6 is set to release on November 19 for Xbox Series X | S and Playstation 5.
