rockstar boss explains why gta 6 won't let you casually walk around with guns like gta 5

Caught this GamesRadar piece earlier and it's got me thinking about how different the vibe is gonna be.

Rockstar boss was talking about why GTA 6 won't just let you walk around with guns out like GTA 5 did. His point was that GTA 5's approach doesn't work 'at this resolution.' I think he means the level of detail now. When everything looks that real, an NPC ignoring a guy with a rifle slung over his shoulder just breaks the illusion.

So they're pushing for more behavioral sophistication from NPCs. That's the phrase he used. Basically the people around you need to actually react in a believable way when you're armed. Maybe they notice, get nervous, change their path, call someone. That kind of thing.

I remember in GTA 5 you could stand outside a store with a minigun and half the pedestrians would just walk past like it's Tuesday. It was funny but also kind of dumb. If GTA 6 is going for that next level of immersion, that stuff has to go.

What I'm curious about is how far they take it. Does pulling a pistol in a quiet neighborhood get a different reaction than in a rough part of Vice City? Do NPCs remember you if you've caused trouble before? The article didn't get into that, but the fact they're talking about behavioral sophistication makes me think there's a whole system under the hood.

Also makes me wonder about the wanted system. If NPCs are more aware, maybe they're the ones who tip off the cops instead of the game just spawning a star on you. That would be a huge shift.

Anyway, what do you all think, are we ready for a GTA where you actually have to think about when to pull a weapon?

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Source: GamesRadar+ · Curated content.