Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to introduce significant changes to the series' long-standing carjacking mechanics, demanding a more tactical approach from players. Gone are the days of simply walking up to a parked car, smashing a window, and driving off, or casually opening the door of an occupied vehicle. Instead, GTA 6 appears to be incorporating deeper simulation elements into how players acquire vehicles.
When approaching a stationary car, players will have multiple options. One method involves using a slim jim, a tool designed to bypass older vehicle locks. This process may involve a lockpicking minigame, but its effectiveness will vary depending on the car's model and year, with newer and more expensive vehicles potentially being incompatible with this method. A new obstacle is the presence of trackers, which can alert authorities to the player's location immediately after a theft. To avoid detection, players will need to find ways to disable these tracking devices, an ability that is not available from the start and will likely be unlocked through story progression or side objectives.
Interestingly, the game introduces a dynamic where exceeding a certain speed may prevent the tracker from pinpointing the player's exact location, adding a layer of urgency to getaways. Slowing down, conversely, makes the player easily trackable.
Stealing occupied vehicles also sees a revamp. Some driven cars may not be locked, allowing players to attempt to open the door. This action will likely trigger a quick-time event or minigame to wrestle the driver out, with passengers also attempting to intervene. As with parked cars, disabling the vehicle's tracker will still be a necessity.
The game will also feature a mobile application called Waink, which players can use to scan vehicles. This app will provide information on the car's security systems and the cost to register it legitimately. Furthermore, if a player abandons their own registered vehicle while wanted by the police, authorities may establish a perimeter around it. Over time, the car could be impounded, presenting players with the choice to retrieve it by either a stealthy infiltration of the impound lot or by paying the impound fee.
These changes suggest that players will need to pre-plan their heists and getaway strategies more thoroughly. The availability of specific tools for stealthy car theft or tracker disabling will be crucial, and acquiring high-performance getaway vehicles will require deliberate effort, either through legitimate means or more complex theft operations. The ability to simply grab the nearest suitable car for a quick escape will be replaced by a need for foresight and preparation, impacting the execution of robberies and other criminal activities within the game world.