GTA 6 Romance? Skip It If You Want, Says Rockstar Dev

Rockstar's Rob Nelson says GTA 6's romance system is optional, but players might miss out if they skip it. The game launches November 19.

Ever wondered if you'll be forced into a romance with your partner in crime in GTA 6? Well, wonder no more. Rockstar's Rob Nelson says you can totally skip the lovey-dovey stuff if it's not your thing.

In a recent interview with IGN, Nelson made it clear that the romance between Jason and Lucia is completely optional. "I have to say it feels great--if you are into it as a concept. Don't bother with it if you aren't. Up to you," he said. So, if you'd rather just stick to robbing banks and evading cops, you're free to do that.

But if you do decide to nurture their relationship, you can hold hands, visit a zoo together, or take a romantic stroll on the beach. Sounds cute, right? Nelson warns that skipping these moments might mean missing out on some compelling elements. "I don't want to say too much more about this because I don't want to spoil anything. It really adds a compelling element to things, and it's one of the reasons we wanted to approach this sort of story, because it's completely different for us," he explained.

Rockstar's goal is to give players the choice. "Could we bring some sort of emotional resonance to GTA for people if they wanted to engage with it? Could we also provide mechanisms for people to just opt out of it if they're not into it? If they feel like, 'I don't want a relationship in this?' That's what we're going to find out. It's not something that we want to foist upon players," Nelson said.

Interestingly, Nelson noted that players might grow to "feel protective of [Jason and Lucia] as a unit" as they progress. This wasn't something the devs originally planned. "This is something we did not know when we started, and it really had to be something we felt our way through. But I will say that whether you're getting in trouble, or you're running from the cops, or getting in a car, or waiting for the other one--playing as them together feels very cool. It feels like you're taking care of them, if that's something you're into," he added.

Managing the relationship will require effort, like responding to texts and being mindful of your actions. "It's new for GTA, this idea of your actions having meaning in terms of how you treat your partner or how violent you are," Nelson said in another interview. He also mentioned that the story draws from "that Bonnie and Clyde concept," saying, "We knew it was the only way for us to go with this game."

GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. We've also learned that the map is 3X bigger than Red Dead Redemption 2's, a playthrough can last up to 80 hours, six-star wanted levels are back, and you can pet the dog. So, are you going to embrace the romance or keep it strictly business? Let us know in the comments!