Rockstar North
Rockstar North business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
GTA 6's driving and car-jacking will be "more challenging", Rockstar says, amid a seemingly big push for realism
Rockstar Games is implementing more challenging driving and car-jacking mechanics in Grand Theft Auto 6, aiming for increased realism. According to Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson, narrower streets and denser traffic will make driving more skill-based. The process of stealing cars has also been made more nuanced, with certain vehicles requiring specific tools or story progression to access.
GTA 6 is revamping the Wanted system and giving you a Criminal Profile
Grand Theft Auto 6 is revamping its iconic Wanted system with a classic six-star rating and introducing a new Criminal Profile mechanic. The Wanted system now considers suspect descriptions including clothing and vehicle, while the Criminal Profile offers a more nuanced reflection of player actions, similar to Red Dead Redemption 2's Honor system.
Oh no, you can doomscroll in GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature in-game smartphones with working social media feeds, allowing players to engage in "doomscrolling." This feature is part of the game's satirical take on modern life, with dual protagonists Jason and Lucia offering distinct gameplay experiences. Head of development Rob Nelson highlighted the team's surprise at the tabloid response to early information.
GTA 6 Wants To Remind You That Looks Matter In The Influencer Hustle Of Vice City
Rockstar Games has detailed new character mechanics for Grand Theft Auto 6, emphasizing the importance of protagonist Jason and Lucia's physical well-being, including exercise, diet, and rest, which will impact their appearance and interactions within Vice City. The game will also feature more reactive NPCs and deeper consequences for player actions, with extensive research and new tools used to create a diverse and detailed world. The first extended preview is set to debut on Netflix, with a wider release on platforms like YouTube following the game's November launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
GTA 6 promises big consequences for your actions that go beyond Red Dead Redemption 2's honor system
Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to feature more significant consequences for player actions than previous Rockstar titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5. Decisions will have broader impacts on the narrative and the game world, with even minor actions potentially affecting the story. The game will also feature more reactive NPCs and character visual changes based on player habits.
GTA 6 gameplay details revealed in new preview, including seamless character switching, playing as a couple and more
New details for Grand Theft Auto 6 reveal seamless character switching between protagonists Jason and Lucia, who can be played together as a couple. The game will feature a reactive world with a deeper morality system than Red Dead Redemption 2, and character body weight mechanics will return. Rockstar Games also faces accusations of union-busting following recent staff firings.
GTA 6 officially has character weight and exercise systems, and even "multi-day benders" reportedly have a visible effect
Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature character systems where eating, exercising, and even multi-day benders visibly affect character appearance and weight, harkening back to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Rockstar Games has emphasized a more grounded and reactive world where player actions have consequences, with NPCs also being more varied in appearance and presentation.
Rockstar set up a special GTA 6 team in Miami to meet with "ex-criminals, law enforcement, club promoters, gun dealers and anyone notorious or influential"
Rockstar Games conducted extensive research for Grand Theft Auto 6, embedding teams in Miami and meeting with individuals from various backgrounds, including ex-criminals and law enforcement, to authentically capture Florida culture. Developers aimed for deep immersion with reactive NPCs and detailed environments, drawing inspiration from local music scenes and fashion.
GTA 6 life simulation elements confirmed: thank god, we can turn the offensively hot Jason and Lucia into exhausted slobs like the rest of us
Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature life simulation elements, allowing players to affect the appearance of protagonists Jason and Lucia through diet, exercise, and sleep, similar to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Rockstar Games is studying Miami residents for inspiration and has confirmed recent leaked videos are legitimate, with more content to be revealed by Netflix.
For GTA 6, Rockstar has more than doubled in size since Red Dead Redemption 2, and has an entire Los Angeles branch…
Rockstar Games has significantly expanded its workforce since the development of Red Dead Redemption 2, with its Los Angeles branch now dedicated almost entirely to pedestrian NPCs for Grand Theft Auto 6. The article highlights the iterative development process and the massive scale of the project, with an estimated budget exceeding $1 billion.
GTA 6 may end up being too 'grounded' according to first official preview
The first preview of Grand Theft Auto 6 suggests the game will be more 'grounded' and realistic, potentially impacting the series' traditional chaotic gameplay. Features like controlling both characters simultaneously, realistic NPC reactions to player actions, and character weight gain/muscle building based on diet and exercise have been highlighted. The article speculates that this focus on realism might deviate from the series' established DNA.
Rockstar had to fight to get people to care about GTA 3 at E3, former lead recalls, and now GTA 6 is the most…
A former Rockstar Games developer, Obbe Vermeij, recalled that Grand Theft Auto 3's success was uncertain at its E3 2001 debut, with many attendees more interested in State of Emergency and finding GTA 3 too violent. Despite initial lukewarm reception and GTA 2 being a disappointment, Grand Theft Auto 3 went on to define the open-world genre and become a massive industry-changer.
GTA 6 Leaker Releases Nightclub Footage and Doubles Down on Its Token Scheme
Despite ongoing efforts by Take-Two Interactive to identify the source, Grand Theft Auto 6 continues to be plagued by leaks, with a leaker known as 'CyberLeek' releasing new gameplay footage and doubling down on their cryptocurrency scheme. The leaker claims the token scheme is a protest against an all-digital future and Rockstar's choices, even justifying the risks involved. Rockstar Games remains unaware of the leaker's identity, and the upcoming Netflix reveal is proceeding as planned.
Grand Theft Auto 6’s Character Population is Rockstar’s “Most Detailed and Varied” Yet
Rockstar Games has detailed the extensive character variety planned for Grand Theft Auto 6, calling it their "most detailed and varied character population" yet. Senior art director Jamie-Lee Lloyd and co-studio head Rob Nelson highlighted the inspiration drawn from Miami's diverse population, with stylist Jillian Carr contributing to the fashion ecosystem. The development team utilized new tools and pipelines to achieve this level of detail, aiming to create an immersive world for players.
GTA 6 Brings Back San Andreas’s Weight and Exercise Systems, Along With Encouraging You to Sleep
Grand Theft Auto 6 will reintroduce weight and exercise systems from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, allowing player characters Lucia and Jason to gain weight from eating and muscle mass from exercising. Not sleeping will also impact character appearance, adding a survival-like element. Rockstar North's Rob Nelson stated the goal is to enable self-expression while maintaining character essence, with the game launching November 19th for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.
CyberLeek Puts a $169,000 Monero Price Tag on Talking to GTA VI Leakers
The group known as CyberLeek is demanding a 400 Monero donation, equivalent to approximately $169,000, from anyone wishing to contact them regarding Grand Theft Auto VI leaks. This cryptocurrency scheme is in addition to soliciting donations for a Solana-based meme coin, which has reportedly already generated significant revenue. Rockstar Games has remained silent, while its parent company has issued subpoenas to various platforms in an attempt to identify the source of the leaks.
GTA 6 Leaks Don’t Matter, So Please Calm Down, Ex-Rockstar Director Says
Former Rockstar North director Obbe Vermeij stated that recent Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks are insignificant and will not impact the company's marketing strategy. He compared the current leaks to the "Hot Coffee" controversy from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, asserting that the current leaks are far less consequential. Vermeij believes the leaks are a "nothing burger" and that 90% of future players are not actively seeking spoilers online.
"I think one of the reasons GTA was so well received was the amount of detail," reflects an original dev: "No one ever said no, or that something couldn't be done"
This article delves into the development history of the Grand Theft Auto series, focusing on the early contributions of DMA Design and key figures like Paul Farley and Mike Dailly. It highlights the evolution of the open-world concept, level design challenges, and the creative freedom that defined the franchise's early entries, from the original Grand Theft Auto to Grand Theft Auto 3 and beyond.
Stalker 2 is finally letting us explore the Chornobyl Power Plant
GSC Game World has released new footage of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope DLC, showcasing the Iron Forest and Chornobyl Power Plant areas. The expansion, launching August 20th for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, will add dozens of hours of content. Meanwhile, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed no concern over labor disputes at Rockstar Games impacting the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, highlighting the company's strong employee relations.
The best GTA moments: Cracking the vault on the first 20 entries in our explosive Top 100 list in the run-up to GTA 6
This article ranks the top 100 moments from the Grand Theft Auto series in anticipation of Grand Theft Auto 6. It highlights memorable heists, robberies, character interactions, and unique gameplay elements across various titles, from the original PlayStation release to Grand Theft Auto 5.
