GTA 6 Driving and Car-Jacking Set to Be 'More Challenging' with a Push for Realism

Developer Rockstar is introducing major changes to two of the Grand Theft Auto series' most prominent and interweaving systems in Grand Theft Auto 6. According to Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson in an interview with IGN, driving and car-jacking are set to become more challenging and nuanced than in previous entries.

Nelson explained that the streets in the game are narrower and more realistic in scale. Combined with traffic density, this environment makes driving require more skill. In addition to tougher driving, stealing cars has also evolved. Previously, players could automatically hotwire any vehicle by pressing a button. In Grand Theft Auto 6, vehicles feature stratified layers. Certain parked cars will be inaccessible early in the story until players acquire specific tools, though players can still carjack any driver they see.

IGN's coverage notes that high-end cars will feature advanced GPS tracking systems, requiring players to drive fast to outrun police attention or escape on foot through alleys and over fences in the built-up areas of Leonida. To assist with vehicle theft, protagonists Jason and Lucia have access to a new phone scanner app called Waink. The app reveals vehicle details such as whether a car is locked, has an alarm, lacks a tracker, its value at a Pay 'n Spray or specialty car fence, and the cost to register it. Players will need tools like a key cloner or a Slim Jim for certain vehicles.

These updates form part of a broader shift toward realism that includes new role-playing-like systems for weight and health, relationship mechanics, and an elaborate Wanted and Criminal Profile system. Nelson noted that the studio aims to innovate and evolve previous systems while keeping the experience familiar, reassuring players that the title is still very much a Grand Theft Auto game.