GTA 6 Story Feels More Like Red Dead Redemption 2 Than GTA 5

Bloomberg's Jason Schreier says GTA 6 leans into a heartfelt couple's story rather than GTA 5's bitter nihilism, with Jason and Lucia able to roam the open world together.

Here's a nugget that should get you hyped: GTA 6's story apparently takes a page from Red Dead Redemption 2 rather than GTA 5. That's according to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, who visited Rockstar North and watched technical director Rob Nelson play the game himself.

Schreier's big takeaway? The narrative feels much closer to Red Dead Redemption 2 than to GTA 5, and he calls that "a welcome shift." If you've played GTA 5 recently, you probably know exactly what he means.

In his report, Schreier doesn't mince words about GTA 5's tone. He describes its "sour nihilism" as something that wears you down fast. He recently replayed the opening hour of the 2013 game and said he was "immediately exhausted by characters who spend so much time insulting and yelling at each other." Fair enough, honestly.

GTA 6 sounds like a different beast. Schreier puts it simply: "One thing is certain: this is a story about two people who genuinely enjoy being around each other." That's Jason and Lucia, the game's central couple, and they can team up in the open world whenever you like.

During the demo, Nelson showed off exactly how that works. Jason calls Lucia to invite her out, and once they meet up you can press a button to kiss, hold hands while strolling through a park, then drive around together, hit the gym, case a bank, deposit some cash, and even sneak into a gas station office to disable the alarm and swipe the money inside. Couple goals, sort of.

There's a gameplay hook tied to this partnership too. Nelson explained that GTA 6's wanted system is more complex than before, because the cops know the perpetrators are a couple. That means you can split up and flee in different directions to shake the pursuit. "This is a brand-new kind of GTA gameplay; you can play with someone if you want," Nelson said.

Mark your calendars: GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. So, are you here for a softer, more companion-driven GTA, or will you miss the chaos of the old crew? Let us know what you think.