Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to introduce significant changes to the franchise's long-standing mechanics, notably making the act of stealing cars a more involved process for the first time in its 25-year history. This overhaul aims to add layers of progression and decision-making to what has traditionally been a simple action within the series.

Previously, players could typically approach a parked vehicle, press a button, and initiate a quick animation to steal it. However, previews following the game's recent trailer reveal that Grand Theft Auto 6 will require players to use specific tools and strategies depending on the vehicle. According to Rob Nelson, head of development at Rockstar North, the studio has implemented a "stratification" system for vehicles.

"Previously, you could just press triangle to automatically hotwire and steal any vehicle that you wanted and take off," Nelson explained. "We felt like that left a lot of potential gameplay on the table in terms of progression and decision-making for players." In the upcoming title, access to certain parked cars will be gated by story progression or the acquisition of specific tools.

Players will encounter varying methods for stealing vehicles. For instance, as shown in the gameplay trailer, characters like Jason and Lucia can use a "Slim Jim" tool to unlock older car models. However, newer vehicles may present additional hurdles. Even if a window is broken to gain entry into a modern car, it might not be possible to hotwire and drive it away without a "key cloner."

Nelson clarified that while some vehicles require specific tools like a key cloner to start, others can still be hotwired. This means players must adapt their approach based on the target vehicle.

The game will still allow for immediate vehicle acquisition in certain situations, such as pulling a driver out of a car stopped at a traffic light. However, these quickly acquired vehicles may be equipped with trackers, alerting law enforcement and leading to police pursuit. Furthermore, any stolen vehicle that is not registered and stored in a personal garage will vanish upon game reboot, necessitating a proper in-game process to claim ownership.

To aid players in navigating these new mechanics, Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature an in-game phone application called Waink. This tool will allow players to scan vehicles to gather information, such as whether a car is locked, has an alarm, or is equipped with a tracker. The app will also indicate the vehicle's resale value and the cost to register it as a personal vehicle.

"For example, [Waink] tells me this car is locked, it’s got an alarm, and has no tracker," Nelson demonstrated. "It also tells me how much it’s worth if I go to take it to a Pay n’ Spray or a specialty car fence, and how much it would cost for me to register it for myself. So, for example, this car needs a key cloner. This other car will just need a Slim Jim. So we’ve added a lot of fun little tools you need or mechanics you need to perform these formerly binary actions."

Nelson believes these additions will give vehicles more significance and encourage players to be more attentive to their actions. The enhanced car theft system is expected to make the act of stealing vehicles more rewarding, requiring planning and skill rather than being a simple, automated action. Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled for release on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox.