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The VI

Gameplay

How Grand Theft Auto VI Plays

A living record of every gameplay system Rockstar has actually shown or stated — with the open questions kept in plain sight. Updated as new official material arrives.

29

Features from official material

11

Activities shown on screen

43

Questions Rockstar hasn't answered

Overview

Everything below is anchored to Rockstar's own 26-minute presentation, captured in-game on PlayStation 5.

Officially Confirmed

Captured in-game on PlayStation 5

Rockstar states the roughly 26-minute Extended Look was captured entirely from in-game footage running on PlayStation 5.

What was shown

  • Rockstar describes the presentation as captured entirely from in-game footage on PlayStation 5.
  • The public video runs approximately 26 minutes.
  • Rockstar describes it as showcasing the biggest, most immersive evolution of the series yet.

Still unknown

  • Rockstar has not published frame-rate, resolution or performance-mode figures.
  • Rockstar has not stated how much of the footage is player-controlled versus directed capture.
Officially Confirmed

November 19, 2026 release restated

Rockstar continues to list November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

What was shown

  • GTA VI is dated November 19, 2026.
  • Announced platforms remain PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Still unknown

  • No PC release has been announced.

Jason + Lucia

The dual-protagonist structure as demonstrated in official footage.

Officially Confirmed

Jason + Lucia dual-protagonist gameplay

The Extended Look demonstrates Jason and Lucia as a partnership across combat, travel, home life and social scenes.

What was shown

  • Jason and Lucia are shown fighting together during firefights.
  • They are shown travelling together by vehicle.
  • They are shown living together, including everyday home scenes.
  • They appear together in social scenes, including holding hands.
  • They are shown communicating while separated.
  • The footage shows the perspective moving between the two leads.

Still unknown

  • Rockstar has not described any relationship meter, affinity system or romance progression.
  • How often the story separates them, and whether the player chooses, has not been explained.
  • Whether either character has unique abilities has not been announced.
THE VI Analysis

A tighter structure than GTA V's three leads

THE VI analysis: two linked leads reads as a more intimate structure than GTA V's three largely independent protagonists.

What was shown

  • This is our reading of the footage, not a Rockstar statement.
  • GTA V used three protagonists who mostly operated separately outside of heists; the Extended Look shows Jason and Lucia sharing scenes, vehicles and a home.

Still unknown

  • Rockstar has not compared the two structures, nor described mission design around the pair.

Read the full profiles: Jason Duval · Lucia Caminos

Character Switching

Moving between the two leads.

Officially Confirmed

Character switching

The player can move between Jason and Lucia.

What was shown

  • The Extended Look visibly demonstrates a transition from Lucia's base jump across Vice City to Jason.
  • The transition is presented as a continuous camera move rather than a hard cut to a menu.

Still unknown

  • Rockstar has not explained switching restrictions, availability or cooldowns.
  • Whether switching is blocked during missions, pursuits or specific story beats is unknown.
  • Whether there is a switch wheel, and what it contains, has not been shown in detail.

Combat & Weapons

Gunplay, weapon handling and firefight presentation shown on screen.

Shown in Official Footage

Weapon wheel

A weapon wheel appears on screen during the footage.

What was shown

  • A radial weapon selection interface is visible while the player is armed.

Still unknown

  • Carry limits, weapon slots and category rules have not been explained.
  • No weapon has been officially named, and no customisation system has been shown.
Shown in Official Footage

Weapon pickups

The player is shown picking up a weapon in the world.

What was shown

  • Weapons can be collected from the environment during a firefight.

Still unknown

  • Whether pickups persist in an inventory, and how storage works, has not been explained.
Shown in Official Footage

Cover shooting

The player takes cover and fires from behind it.

What was shown

  • Cover is used against objects and walls during firefights.
  • The player moves between positions while under fire.

Still unknown

  • Cover snapping rules, blind-fire behaviour and destructible cover have not been detailed.
Shown in Official Footage

Shooting from vehicles

Gunfire from inside a moving vehicle is shown, including alongside the second protagonist.

What was shown

  • The player fires from a vehicle while in motion.
  • The second protagonist is shown firing during vehicle sequences.

Still unknown

  • Drive-by aiming assists, weapon restrictions and passenger AI rules are unexplained.
Shown in Official Footage

Cinematic slow-motion presentation

Some combat moments are presented with a slowed, cinematic emphasis in the footage.

What was shown

  • The effect appears during specific moments of the presentation.

Still unknown

  • Rockstar has not confirmed this as a player-activated ability.
  • It may be a scripted presentation choice; treat any 'bullet time' claim as unverified.

Police & Wanted System

Pursuits, the wanted meter and police response as visibly demonstrated.

Officially Confirmed

Six-star wanted meter

The wanted meter visibly reaches six stars during the Extended Look.

What was shown

  • A six-star wanted display appears on screen.
  • It appears during a large-scale police pursuit.

Still unknown

  • Escalation rules between star levels have not been explained.
  • Police AI tiers, response composition and search behaviour are unexplained.
  • How six stars differ mechanically from previous GTA games has not been stated.
  • Rockstar has not said whether a military response exists at any level.
Shown in Official Footage

Large-scale police pursuits

Extended pursuits involving multiple police vehicles and a helicopter are shown.

What was shown

  • Multiple marked police vehicles pursue the player at once.
  • A police helicopter is present during pursuit footage.
  • Vehicle combat occurs during pursuits, including shots fired at tires.
  • Crashes and environmental damage occur during the chase.

Still unknown

  • Arrest, jail, bounty, witness and cooldown systems have not been described.
  • Search radius behaviour and evasion rules have not been explained.

Vehicles & Driving

Driving, damage and in-vehicle interaction.

Shown in Official Footage

Vehicle damage and destruction

Vehicles visibly deform, shed parts and take damage during chases and crashes.

What was shown

  • Body panels, glass and tires visibly degrade under fire and impact.
  • Environmental objects are damaged during crashes.

Still unknown

  • No damage model figures, repair systems or insurance rules have been described.
Shown in Official Footage

Convertible roof interaction

A convertible roof is operated from inside the vehicle.

What was shown

  • The roof is raised or lowered as an in-vehicle interaction.

Still unknown

  • Which vehicles support it, and the full in-car interaction set, is unknown.

World Interaction

Homes, objects and everyday interaction in Leonida.

Shown in Official Footage

Home and safehouse interactions

Everyday interactions inside a home are shown — including the fridge, television and getting ready to leave.

What was shown

  • A fridge is opened and food or drink is taken.
  • Television is watched and channels are changed.
  • Lucia chooses an outfit before heading out.
  • Jason prompts Lucia to hurry.

Still unknown

  • Rockstar has not said that every safehouse supports these interactions.
  • Property ownership, purchasing and customisation have not been described.

Water & Exploration

Coast, swamp and everything the player uses to move across them.

THE VI Analysis

Water is a substantial gameplay space

THE VI analysis: boats, jet skis, fanboats, paddled craft, scuba, coastline and swamp together point to water as a major design space.

What was shown

  • Each individual element — boats, jet skis, fanboats, canoe/kayak, scuba, coastal and swamp environments — is visible in official footage.
  • The conclusion drawn from combining them is ours, not a Rockstar statement.

Still unknown

  • Rockstar has not described water as a design pillar, nor detailed underwater or marine content.

Appearance & Clothing

Outfits and character presentation shown in footage.

Shown in Official Footage

Outfit selection

Lucia is shown choosing an outfit before leaving the house.

What was shown

  • An in-home outfit choice sequence is shown.

Still unknown

  • Wardrobe depth, clothing stores, per-character wardrobes and any appearance stats are unstated.

HUD & UI

On-screen elements visible during the Extended Look.

Shown in Official Footage

In-scene messaging

Text messages are presented within the scene rather than as a conventional detached phone overlay.

What was shown

  • Message content is shown integrated into the on-screen presentation during play.

Still unknown

  • No in-game app, phone OS or contact system has been named or detailed by Rockstar.
Shown in Official Footage

On-screen HUD elements

A minimap, wanted meter and weapon indicator are visible during gameplay segments.

What was shown

  • The wanted meter, minimap and weapon display appear during action sequences.

Still unknown

  • HUD customisation options and full element behaviour have not been detailed.

NPCs & World Reactivity

How the world and its people respond on screen.

Shown in Official Footage

NPC and world reactivity

Crowds, traffic and bystanders react visibly to events around them.

What was shown

  • Dense pedestrian crowds appear in city and beach settings.
  • Bystanders and traffic react during chases and disturbances.

Still unknown

  • No NPC memory, reputation, witness or crime-reporting systems have been described by Rockstar.

Activities

Everything the player was visibly shown doing outside of combat. Each entry becomes a full guide once the game is out.

Street activity

Basketball

Basketball is played on an outdoor court in the footage.

Water activity

Scuba diving

Underwater diving with scuba equipment is shown.

Water activity

Canoes and kayaks

Paddled watercraft are used in the footage.

Water activity

Jet skis

Personal watercraft are ridden along the coast.

Water activity

Fanboats

Airboat-style fanboats are used in swamp environments.

Racing

Circuit racing

Racing on a purpose-built circuit appears in the footage.

Aerial activity

Parachuting and base jumping

Lucia base jumps from height and deploys a parachute over Vice City.

Water activity

Boating

Powered boats travel across open water in the footage.

World interaction

Dog interaction

The player is shown interacting with a dog.

Social

Nightlife and parties

Social nightlife scenes with crowds appear in the footage.

Home

Television and home activities

Watching television and changing channels is shown inside a home.

Full activities index →

What Rockstar has not explained

We keep the gaps visible on purpose. Nothing here should be treated as a hint, and none of it is sourced from leaks.

  • Captured in-game on PlayStation 5: Rockstar has not published frame-rate, resolution or performance-mode figures.
  • Captured in-game on PlayStation 5: Rockstar has not stated how much of the footage is player-controlled versus directed capture.
  • November 19, 2026 release restated: No PC release has been announced.
  • Jason + Lucia dual-protagonist gameplay: Rockstar has not described any relationship meter, affinity system or romance progression.
  • Jason + Lucia dual-protagonist gameplay: How often the story separates them, and whether the player chooses, has not been explained.
  • Jason + Lucia dual-protagonist gameplay: Whether either character has unique abilities has not been announced.
  • A tighter structure than GTA V's three leads: Rockstar has not compared the two structures, nor described mission design around the pair.
  • Character switching: Rockstar has not explained switching restrictions, availability or cooldowns.
  • Character switching: Whether switching is blocked during missions, pursuits or specific story beats is unknown.
  • Character switching: Whether there is a switch wheel, and what it contains, has not been shown in detail.
  • Weapon wheel: Carry limits, weapon slots and category rules have not been explained.
  • Weapon wheel: No weapon has been officially named, and no customisation system has been shown.
  • Weapon pickups: Whether pickups persist in an inventory, and how storage works, has not been explained.
  • Cover shooting: Cover snapping rules, blind-fire behaviour and destructible cover have not been detailed.
  • Shooting from vehicles: Drive-by aiming assists, weapon restrictions and passenger AI rules are unexplained.
  • Cinematic slow-motion presentation: Rockstar has not confirmed this as a player-activated ability.
  • Cinematic slow-motion presentation: It may be a scripted presentation choice; treat any 'bullet time' claim as unverified.
  • Six-star wanted meter: Escalation rules between star levels have not been explained.
  • Six-star wanted meter: Police AI tiers, response composition and search behaviour are unexplained.
  • Six-star wanted meter: How six stars differ mechanically from previous GTA games has not been stated.
  • Six-star wanted meter: Rockstar has not said whether a military response exists at any level.
  • Large-scale police pursuits: Arrest, jail, bounty, witness and cooldown systems have not been described.
  • Large-scale police pursuits: Search radius behaviour and evasion rules have not been explained.
  • Vehicle damage and destruction: No damage model figures, repair systems or insurance rules have been described.
  • Convertible roof interaction: Which vehicles support it, and the full in-car interaction set, is unknown.
  • Basketball: Rules, scoring, rewards, progression, multiplayer support and court locations are all unstated.
  • Scuba diving: Oxygen rules, underwater collectibles, depth limits and equipment sourcing are unstated.
  • Canoes and kayaks: Availability, spawn points and any related activities are unstated.
  • Jet skis: Handling models, races and rental/ownership rules are unstated.
  • Fanboats: Where fanboats are obtained and whether swamp travel has dedicated content is unstated.
  • Circuit racing: No motorsport progression, championship structure, class system or rewards have been described.
  • Parachuting and base jumping: Parachute acquisition, controls and any jump-site content are unstated.
  • Boating: Boat ownership, docks and marine activities have not been described.
  • Dog interaction: There is no confirmation of pet ownership, dog companions, feeding or any related system.
  • Nightlife and parties: Whether venues are enterable at will, and any club activities, is unstated.
  • Television and home activities: Channel line-ups, programming and whether every property includes a TV are unstated.
  • Home and safehouse interactions: Rockstar has not said that every safehouse supports these interactions.
  • Home and safehouse interactions: Property ownership, purchasing and customisation have not been described.
  • Water is a substantial gameplay space: Rockstar has not described water as a design pillar, nor detailed underwater or marine content.
  • Outfit selection: Wardrobe depth, clothing stores, per-character wardrobes and any appearance stats are unstated.
  • In-scene messaging: No in-game app, phone OS or contact system has been named or detailed by Rockstar.
  • On-screen HUD elements: HUD customisation options and full element behaviour have not been detailed.
  • NPC and world reactivity: No NPC memory, reputation, witness or crime-reporting systems have been described by Rockstar.

Take it into the database

These systems feed THE VI's reference directory. Individual weapon and vehicle records appear there the moment Rockstar names one — the confirmed systems above are referenced, never re-written.

Weapons database →Vehicles database →Activities database →

How we label this page

Officially Confirmed

Rockstar states it directly, in writing or narration.

Shown in Official Footage

Visible in Rockstar's own video, without a written statement.

Rockstar Preview Information

From hands-off press material, not the public video.

THE VI Analysis

Our reading. Never presented as Rockstar's position.

No leaked or unauthorised material is used anywhere on this page. Full context in the Extended Look breakdown.