'Grand Theft Auto VI' Follows in Red Dead Redemption 2's Mud-Caked, Immersive Footsteps

Rockstar confirms that Grand Theft Auto VI is a single-player experience. Pre-ordering Grand Theft Auto VI does give you one free month of GTA+ (Rockstar's subscription service). But note: this is for Grand Theft Auto Online, derived from Grand Theft Auto V. There is no mention of a new Grand Theft Auto Online derived from Grand Theft Auto VI.

To be fair, Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 also launched without their multiplayer modes up and running. But just know that you'll be playing through Lucia and Jason's story first. In an industry that incentivizes multiplayer and non-linear gameplay, Rockstar is prioritizing, at least at launch, what they do well.

Hindsight being 20/20, it seems that Rockstar pilots features in earlier games and then rolls them out, in all their glory, for the next game. Red Dead Redemption 2 was the first time Rockstar divided its story into chapters (and two epilogues). And it seems, from the press release, that Grand Theft Auto VI will follow a similar narrative division.

Chapter divisions enabled a lot of cool stuff in Red Dead Redemption 2, such as a dynamic, ever-changing world and the ability to meet up with side characters multiple times over the course of a long journey. Perhaps like Red Dead Redemption 2, Grand Theft Auto VI will have more in-depth, heartfelt storytelling, in contrast to the cynical nihilism at the core of Grand Theft Auto V.

If you purchase the Ultimate Edition for $100, you will gain access to exclusive items and two story missions: one is a gang raid, and the other involves collecting and restoring vintage cars. You'll also be able to access the following Ultimate Edition-exclusive shops in-game:

If you purchase the $80 standard edition, these shops will simply be “closed” and non-interactive. I wouldn't worry too much about missing them; there's bound to be other salons, clothing shops, and tattoo parlors dotting the city landscape. But if you're a completionist and you don't want to miss out on anything, there are likely some features (like Jason's facial hair) that will be exclusive purchases only available at these locations.

Is that worth an extra 20 bucks? You'll have to be the judge of that.

We have several new details about the Garages. At each Garage, you can switch your weapons loadout to better accommodate your current mission. You can also store and secure your stolen goods before selling them off to the local Fence.

Rockstar first piloted the idea of a weapons loadout in Red Dead Redemption 2. Prior to that (in Grand Theft Auto V, for example), the character would keep an unlimited number of weapons on his person. But in Red Dead Redemption 2, Arthur stored all his weapons on his horse, and when he went on foot, he could only carry two handguns and one long gun. It seems that Rockstar is sticking to this more realistic weapons inventory

Grand Theft Auto VI continues the franchise tradition of fictional business entities, including Ammu-Nation (a gun store), and Stronghold (an ammo manufacturer).

One of the screenshots shows a wad of bills with a dye bomb on them. It's a neat little detail because if Lucia and Jason rob a bank or an armored truck, dye bombs might be another headache to deal with in addition to the alarms and the law.

Here's a description of one of the Ultimate Edition exclusive missions from the press release:

"One of Leonida’s loudest and most socially active gangs, the PTT Youngin$ grow premium hydroponics in places you’d least expect. Find a way to raid the PTT Youngin$ Illegal Goods Store in Southside Vice City and escape safely to score some special items and distinct contraband."

Gang Raids such as this one would be a great way to acquire unique weapons or early, spare cash.