GTA 6: everything new from IGN's full Rob Nelson interview

On October 7, 2026, IGN published the full version of its big interview with Rob Nelson, Rockstar North's Head of Development and Co-Studio Head, recorded while he played GTA VI live for around half an hour. Following his Famitsu interview, it's the most detailed look yet at how the game actually plays. Here's what's new, grouped by what matters once you've got the controller in hand.

Jason and Lucia live their own lives

Each protagonist follows their own routine when you're not controlling them: switch characters and you might find them asleep or in the shower (Nelson showed off a naked Jason mid-wash). The relationship also needs looking after from a distance:

• You can call and text each other to meet up or check in. If Lucia says she's heading to bed and you ignore her, the relationship takes a small hit; a quick "goodnight" is enough.
• "Quality time" includes robberies, zoo trips, scuba diving, skydiving, beach walks, kayaking and studying animals. Out together, they hold hands (with R2), kiss and open doors for each other.
• Working out together at the gym boosts both characters' stats at once.
• Looking after the relationship is optional and gives no mechanical advantage, but Nelson says it will have a bearing on the story.
• On social media (Snapmatic) they can follow accounts and browse posts but never post: they're fugitives, so they lurk.

Safehouses, Focus Mode and your personal vehicle

• Safehouses take their cue from Red Dead Redemption 2's camps, with plenty to interact with. You can trim your hair or shave there; for a new hairstyle you'll need a salon or barber, each with its own signature looks.
• A Focus Mode similar to Red Dead's Eagle Eye helps you spot items and people, police included.
• Your personal vehicle can be called at any time, keeps spare outfits in the trunk and doubles as a mobile armory for every weapon you've bought.

How to shake the cops

Police remember what you're wearing: glasses, a cap or a new haircut won't fool them if you're still in the same clothes. Changing outfits (say, from your trunk) helps clear your heat, and since officers are looking for a couple, splitting up works too. At three stars, escaping by car gets tough, and ducking through alleys on foot is often the better bet. When you're together, one of you can drive while the other shoots.

Rob almost anything, and cars are worth money

You can rob pretty much anything, down to a small corner store, and prep work (like staging a getaway car) helps but isn't required. For cars, there's a phone scanner that shows alarms and trackers, which tool you'll need, what the fence pays and the registration cost. Damaged cars sell for less, so it can pay to repair them before delivery. Some parked cars stay off-limits until the story hands you the right tools, though you can always yank a driver out of theirs.

Open world and systems

• Ryde Me, Leonida's take on Uber, works as optional fast travel: chat with the driver or skip the trip.
• Streets are narrower and more true to scale than in earlier GTAs, with heavier traffic that makes driving more demanding.
• Pedestrians come in varied heights and builds, with animations retargeted on the fly to fit each body.
• Food gives real health buffs (even gum does something), overeating makes you gain weight and the gym makes you stronger.
• Unplanned encounters are part of the design: in the demo, Lucia runs into a man living in a dumpster. Give him pills or don't, come back later for some legal advice… or climb in with him.

Story and choices

Expect lots of choices, big and small: small ones add up over time while big ones have an immediate effect on the story, and your criminal profile feeds into the outcome too. On Lucia's ankle monitor, Nelson would only say it's central to the story and to how the couple got together. As for satire, Rockstar steers clear of specific political issues and passing memes so the game doesn't date, echoing what its writers told LOVE magazine.

Our take

The standout is how much Red Dead Redemption 2 there is in GTA VI: camp-like safehouses, an Eagle Eye-style Focus Mode, animal studying and a relationship you maintain through small gestures. The big difference is pace: everything is built to blur the line between missions and open world, and to make every choice, from your outfit to whether you answer a text, matter. We'll find out on November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.