GTA 6 Gameplay: Every Confirmed Feature and Mechanic
Rockstar’s 26-minute Extended Look and a subsequent press visit to Rockstar North put real gameplay on the record for the first time. This is what has actually been demonstrated, not what has been guessed at.
Switching between Jason and Lucia
You can switch between the two protagonists freely during open-world play, though story missions may restrict it at certain points. Playing solo, you can call or text the other character to come join an activity or help in a firefight.
Relationship building is optional and handled through shared time — shopping, exercising, or committing robberies together. Safehouses work like Red Dead Redemption 2 camps, with both characters living there and keeping independent schedules when you are not controlling them.
The six-star wanted system
The sixth wanted star returns, restoring the tier GTA 5 cut. More significant is what sits underneath it: police now track you by what they actually observed rather than by an abstract detection cone.
A wanted level only triggers if an NPC witnesses the crime or an alarm goes off. Once it does, officers are given a description — your clothing, your vehicle, your face. Changing a single item will not clear it; you need a full outfit change or a disguise, and swapping vehicles matters independently.
Stealing cars actually takes work now
Vehicles fall into tiers, and higher tiers need the right tool. A slim jim gets you into some cars; a key cloner is required for others. Walking up and driving away is no longer universal.
Stolen vehicles and goods can be sold to fences, which plugs into an economy where money genuinely gates progression. Heists reward planning, and the demonstration highlighted a recurring tension between grabbing more and getting out faster.
Combat, stats and the Criminal Profile
Non-lethal options are in: you can disarm opponents or shoot limbs to end a fight without killing. A Criminal Profile tracks your general behaviour and changes how the world reacts to you in free roam, but it is not a strict good-or-evil alignment meter.
The San Andreas physical stats return in modified form. Gym time builds muscle; overeating adds weight and health. A new Focus system highlights points of interest, and the phone is a physical object you pull from a pocket rather than a HUD overlay.
Frequently asked
Can you switch characters in GTA 6?+
Yes. You can switch between Jason and Lucia freely in the open world, though some story missions restrict it. You can also call or text the other character to join you.
Does GTA 6 have a six-star wanted level?+
Yes. The sixth star returns after GTA 5 reduced the maximum to five, alongside a police system that tracks your clothing, vehicle and appearance.
How do you lose the police in GTA 6?+
Police act on a description of what witnesses saw, so breaking line of sight is not enough. You need to change your full outfit or use a disguise, and change vehicle, since both are tracked separately.
Is there non-lethal combat in GTA 6?+
Yes. You can disarm enemies or shoot limbs to end an encounter without killing, in addition to conventional lethal options.