Grand Theft Auto VI will feature a significant overhaul of its car theft mechanics, moving away from the series' long-standing practice of allowing players to steal any vehicle with a single button press. Rockstar Games is implementing layered security systems for vehicles, requiring players to utilize new tools and mechanics to successfully acquire them.
According to Rockstar co-founder Rob Nelson in an interview with IGN, the previous method of simply pressing a button to hotwire and steal any car left untapped gameplay potential. The new approach aims to provide more progression and decision-making for players, giving each vehicle greater meaning and demanding more attention to detail. Cars will now possess varying security measures that players must overcome, with different values attached to them.
A new application on the in-game phone, dubbed WAINK, will assist players in assessing potential targets. By scanning a vehicle, players can obtain information such as whether it is locked, if it has an alarm or tracker, and its potential value if sold to a Pay n’ Spray or a specialty car fence. The scanner will also indicate the specific tools or methods required for theft, such as a key cloner for electronically keyed vehicles or a Slim Jim for simpler locks.
Even with access to these new technologies, acquiring a car will not be foolproof. Some vehicles may be equipped with secret trackers, and certain models could even expose the player's location to the police if driven too slowly. These added layers are intended to make the act of stealing a car a more involved and engaging process.
Beyond car theft, driving in Grand Theft Auto VI is also set to become more challenging. Nelson noted that the streets in the game world are narrower and more realistically scaled. Combined with denser traffic, this design aims to make driving a more skillful endeavor.
This news follows a preview event that provided an extended look at the upcoming crime simulator. Grand Theft Auto VI is currently slated for release on consoles, with no PC release date announced. The game's protagonists are Lucia and Jason, and players will reportedly have agency in determining the nature of their relationship.