Ahead of Rockstar's official gameplay reveal on Netflix, Dazed magazine's September issue published an exclusive preview of Grand Theft Auto 6 featuring interviews with multiple Rockstar developers and new screenshots. The preview arrives as leaked footage of the game has circulated online, which Rockstar has called "heartbreaking," saying "this is obviously not how we intended for you to see the game after all this time." GTA 6 is set to launch November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
One of the biggest reveals is the return of a body-change system last seen in GTA: San Andreas. According to the interview, protagonists Jason and Lucia will gain weight if they eat too much and can build muscle tone through exercise. Playing for long stretches without sleep will also visibly affect their appearance. Outlets note this expands on a similar mechanic from Red Dead Redemption 2, where Arthur Morgan's body and face changed based on diet, injuries, and lack of rest.
The preview also details a more complex relationship system between Jason and Lucia than seen in past Rockstar games. Rockstar's senior vice president of narrative, Rupert Humphries, described the story as a "Bonnie and Clyde-type narrative" about a pair of criminal lovers, and Dazed reports that player choices could have consequences that "cut much deeper" than the honor systems used in earlier titles like Red Dead Redemption. Specific mechanics behind how this relationship system works were not detailed.
According to the interview, GTA 6 will feature significant upgrades to non-player characters, including a dedicated NPC design team, a "fashion ecosystem" reflecting NPCs' lifestyle and affluence, and regional variety across the game's map. Rockstar reportedly hired more than 50 real-world street artists to design murals for the game's version of Miami's Wynwood district, and brought in professional race car drivers to help design vehicle handling. Developers also said they consulted with people from various backgrounds, including former criminals and club promoters, to help build out characters and NPC behavior.
Character-swapping between Jason and Lucia will allow players to either play as a couple or go off independently, according to the preview. One example given describes driving as Jason while Lucia, as a passenger, browses the in-game phone, with players able to switch between characters, such as one driving while the other shoots. The game will also change how carrying weapons in public is handled: unlike previous GTA titles where NPCs largely ignored visibly armed characters unless they opened fire, Rockstar developer Rob Nelson said that in GTA 6, walking down the street with a rifle will draw a reaction from the city, though exact mechanics such as whether this can lead to arrest remain unclear.
The preview describes GTA 6 as sitting between the satirical tone of GTA 5 and the more grounded realism of Red Dead Redemption 2, aiming for a "believable culture" rather than a parody of Florida stereotypes, while still including humor such as encounters with "Florida Man" archetypes. Jason is described as an ex-military drug runner, while Lucia is an amateur fighter recently released from prison. Humphries also discussed the game's music influences, citing Miami bass and artists like Kodak Black and Sexyy Red, and referencing settings from house parties in Overtown to high-end clubs in South Beach. Rockstar's official gameplay reveal for GTA 6 was set to air on Netflix the day after the Dazed preview was published.