rdr2 made me preorder gta6, but now i'm wondering if that's fair

I preordered GTA6 the second it went live, and the only reason was RDR2. Played it during covid and it blew me away. The detail, the pacing, the way the world felt alive. So when GTA6 preorders opened I didn't even think twice.

But then I started thinking about the actual GTA series. I've played a ton of GTA5 and San Andreas, but honestly that's because they were the only open world games I knew about as a kid. Not because they were on RDR2's level. GTA5 is fun, but it's a different beast. More arcadey, more chaotic, less grounded.

So now I'm sitting here wondering if I set my expectations too high. If GTA6 ends up being "just" as good as GTA5, would I be satisfied? I don't know. RDR2 set a bar that GTA has never really tried to hit. The storytelling, the weight of everything, the slow burn. GTA has always been more about the sandbox and the satire.

I think Rockstar can do it. They've had years, and the trailers show a level of detail that looks closer to RDR2 than GTA5. But I also know GTA has its own identity. Maybe expecting RDR2's tone in a GTA game is setting myself up for disappointment. I'll find out in November.

Source: r/GTA6 · Curated content.

RDR2 and GTA serve different masters. The trailers sell detail because pre-orders are open and they need your $80. Don't let marketing blur the two franchises. Maybe the August 27 video changes the math. For now, it's safer to assume GTA6 knows exactly what it is. I hope I'm wrong.

ok so, the grassrivers swamp lighting in trailer two alone feels heavier than gta5 ever did. that doesn't guarantee rdr2 tone but it's something.