GTA 6 is introducing some of Rockstar Games’ most detailed gameplay systems yet, with new information revealing how police investigations, vehicle theft, character relationships, and everyday life in Leonida will work.

A new Edge magazine preview offers a closer look at the game after Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson demonstrated around 90 minutes of gameplay.

The extensive preview, published through GamesRadar+, reveals dozens of details that could make Grand Theft Auto VI feel very different from previous entries.

From police remembering what players wear to NPCs reacting to their surroundings, Rockstar appears to be putting more focus on making the open world respond to player actions.

One of the biggest revelations concerns Sam Houser’s involvement in GTA 6’s development.

According to the report, Rockstar’s president has played an active role in major creative decisions, helping shape the map, characters, story, and overall direction of the game. Houser also regularly plays development builds with Rob Nelson and provides feedback on everything from lighting and animation to gameplay and dialogue.

The game’s map is another major talking point. Leonida is reportedly around twice the size of GTA 5’s map, while its total landmass is said to be close to the combined playable areas of GTA 4, GTA 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Rockstar has also created roughly ten times as many interiors as in previous games, with buildings featuring personal details that help make the world feel lived in.

The preview also reveals that GTA 6’s day-and-night cycle has been made substantially longer.

Rockstar reportedly found that the passage of time in GTA 5 felt too fast for the more realistic world it wanted to create. Weather also plays a greater role, with changing wind conditions affecting boats and aircraft.

NPCs are receiving a major upgrade, too. Rockstar has reportedly created around 600,000 animations for the game, with individual pedestrians given different personalities and reactions.

Their behaviour can depend on their temperament, surroundings, what they have witnessed, and how the player treats them.

That means NPCs will not always run away when Jason or Lucia causes trouble. Some may fight back during a robbery, while others could intervene if they see someone being threatened.

Characters can also react to unpleasant smells in their surroundings, adding another small detail to the world.

GTA 6’s Police System Will Remember More About Players

The police system appears to be one of the biggest changes in GTA 6. Rather than relying only on a traditional wanted level, the game reportedly uses a heat system that tracks the information officers have gathered about a crime.

This can include the player’s physical description, clothing, weapon, whether they were working with a partner, and whether CCTV captured them. Players will need to think about what witnesses and cameras have seen rather than simply escaping the immediate area.

Changing clothes can make it harder for police to identify the player. Switching cars, dropping a weapon, or splitting up from a partner can also remove identifying details from the police investigation.

Police pursuits are also becoming more dangerous. The preview describes officers using spike strips to stop fleeing vehicles, while K9 units can join chases and pin down suspects. These systems could make robberies and getaways less predictable than they were in GTA 5.

The world itself can create problems during crimes. A driver being carjacked might refuse to leave their vehicle or fight back, and some expensive cars can contain GPS trackers that reveal their location to the police. Vehicle owners can also report thefts, adding another risk to stealing cars.

New Apps Make Car Theft More Detailed

GTA 6 will introduce two notable phone apps connected to vehicles: Scooter Bros and WAINK.

Scooter Bros allows players to request their personal vehicle for a small fee. A delivery rider brings the car to the player before leaving on their scooter, giving players a convenient way to retrieve a vehicle without driving back to its previous location.

WAINK, meanwhile, helps Jason and Lucia find vehicles wanted by criminal buyers known as fences. The app reportedly lists the cars buyers are looking for, along with information about their security features and tracking systems.

Stealing a car will require more thought because every vehicle has a fuel gauge and an engine-health indicator. Players will need to keep an eye on fuel levels and vehicle condition, especially when planning an escape or delivering a stolen car.

Some high-end vehicles have stronger security and tracking features, making them harder to steal and sell safely. The amount players receive for a vehicle can also depend on its condition when it reaches the buyer.

Players May Need to Commit More Crimes to Progress

Another major change involves how players earn money during the story. According to the preview, Jason and Lucia will sometimes need to raise enough cash before they can move on to their next job.

That could mean robbing a gas station or jewellery store, stealing a particular vehicle, or completing other criminal activities to earn money. This adds more natural breaks between story missions instead of allowing players to move from one major job to another without much downtime.

The system could make money management more important throughout the game. Players may need to decide which activities are worth their time and how much risk they are willing to take to fund their next job.

Jason and Lucia’s Relationship Has Four Levels

Jason and Lucia’s relationship will also have a dedicated system. Their closeness is reportedly measured on a four-level scale, which can increase as players spend time together.

Activities such as walking on the beach, cycling, working out at the gym, and driving around together can help strengthen their relationship. However, the system is not simply a side activity: Rockstar says the way players develop their relationship can affect how the story unfolds.

The game also introduces a separate Criminal Profile system, which tracks the way Jason and Lucia behave as criminals. Their profiles can range from Professional to Irredeemable, reflecting whether they tend to act with restraint or use unnecessary violence.

According to Rockstar, the Criminal Profile can influence how the world reacts to the protagonists and how their story plays out. This is different from Red Dead Redemption 2’s Honor system, giving players another way to shape their experience.

Working Buses, Trains, and More Everyday Activities

The new preview also confirms that GTA 6 will feature functioning bus and train systems. Players will be able to use public transport to travel around Leonida, while the developers have reportedly tested bus routes and arrival times to make the systems work as expected.

Everyday activities will play a bigger role in the world, too. Players can buy items such as cigarettes and beer, spend time at different locations, and choose to explore at their own pace instead of constantly chasing missions.

These details support Rockstar’s wider goal of creating a world that feels alive even when players are not involved in a major mission. Combined with the longer day-and-night cycle, detailed interiors, reactive NPCs, and changing weather, Leonida could offer plenty of reasons to explore beyond the main story.

The preview also describes police spike strips, K9 pursuits, drivers who fight back during carjackings, and bystanders who may interfere with robberies. These encounters can disrupt a player’s plans and make even a small crime turn into an unexpected situation.

GTA 6 is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. With the release approaching, the latest Edge preview offers one of the most detailed looks yet at the systems Rockstar is building into its next Grand Theft Auto game.