Rockstar Games packed an extraordinary amount of information into the 27-minute GTA 6 Extended Look. Beyond the obvious shootouts, police chases and spectacular views of Leonida, closer inspection reveals major changes to how Grand Theft Auto VI actually plays.

The presentation follows Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos through robberies, relationships and everyday life across Vice City. Yet small interface prompts and background details reveal just as much as the headline scenes.

Among the biggest discoveries are the return of a six-star wanted level, expanded NPC interactions inspired by Red Dead Redemption 2, more complex vehicle theft, character relationship mechanics and a surprisingly broad collection of recreational activities.

Rockstar did not narrate these systems. It simply showed them. That makes the details easy to miss.

GTA 6 Brings Back the Six-Star Wanted Level

One of the clearest gameplay revelations appears during a robbery sequence involving Lucia.

The HUD shows a six-star GTA 6 wanted level, restoring a scale that longtime players will recognize. GTA 5 reduced the maximum wanted level to five stars, so the return of the sixth star immediately raises questions about how aggressive Leonida’s highest police response will become.

The police system itself also appears more sophisticated.

Icons reportedly track information authorities can use to identify the player, including clothing, physical appearance, weapons, accomplices and whether the crime was captured by CCTV.

Players may therefore need to think beyond simply escaping a search radius.

Changing clothes or abandoning a recognizable vehicle could become part of successfully disappearing after a crime. During another chase, police appear capable of identifying the suspects’ vehicle even when Jason and Lucia themselves are not immediately visible.

That could make escaping the law substantially less predictable than in GTA 5.

Stealing Cars Is No Longer Always Instant

Grand Theft Auto has traditionally made vehicle theft remarkably simple. GTA 6 appears to introduce more choices.

During the Extended Look, Jason approaches a locked vehicle and receives options including “slim jim” and “smash window.”

Using the quieter method appears to trigger an interaction rather than instantly opening the vehicle.

This may sound like a minor change, but it could alter the rhythm of committing crimes. Smashing a window is quick and conspicuous. A slower entry method may attract less attention.

Rockstar has not fully explained how vehicle security works across different cars. However, the footage suggests stealing a parked vehicle will involve more decision-making than simply pressing one button.

Red Dead Redemption 2-Style NPC Interaction Returns

Another major change involves GTA 6 NPC interaction.

The footage shows Jason targeting nearby characters and receiving contextual interaction choices, strongly resembling the system Rockstar developed for Red Dead Redemption 2.

Animals are included too.

Jason can interact with a dog using options that include greeting and scolding it. There is also a study option, suggesting GTA 6 may contain a broader wildlife discovery system.

Red Dead Redemption 2 made ordinary encounters surprisingly memorable because strangers responded differently to Arthur Morgan depending on the situation. Bringing an expanded version of that technology into a dense modern setting could have an even greater effect.

Vice City contains far more people, vehicles and rapidly changing situations than the frontier.

That makes NPC reactivity one of GTA 6’s most interesting technical ambitions.

Jason and Lucia Have a Visible Relationship System

The Extended Look also suggests the relationship between Jason and Lucia is more than a fixed part of the script.

Players are presented with contextual choices during conversations and shared activities. At one point, Jason can ask Lucia to hurry or decide not to push the issue. Elsewhere, the pair can hold hands.

A heart symbol also appears alongside their character information, apparently representing the strength or status of their relationship.

This could give everyday decisions more weight without turning GTA 6 into a conventional role-playing game.

The system also fits Rockstar’s broader narrative direction. Jason and Lucia are partners both personally and criminally. Giving players some influence over that relationship could make their story feel more responsive.

Character Switching Looks Faster During Missions

GTA 6 character switching also returns, but Rockstar appears to be refining it.

During missions, transitions between Jason and Lucia can happen rapidly. One character can drive while the other shoots, allowing the player to choose which role to control.

That could solve an old GTA problem. Driving at high speed while simultaneously trying to aim and fire can be awkward on a controller.

Outside missions, character switching appears slower and closer to GTA 5’s familiar cinematic transitions.

Combat Has More Ways to Incapacitate Enemies

Gunfights contain several smaller changes as well.

Enemy body parts can reportedly be highlighted differently depending on the potential result of a shot. Certain areas indicate lethal damage, while shots to limbs may incapacitate an opponent without immediately killing them.

Jason also appears to have a focus ability that slows time during combat, drawing obvious comparisons with Red Dead Redemption’s Dead Eye system.

Weapons and items now appear on separate selection wheels. Consumables can be used quickly to restore or improve stats such as health, stamina and focus.

Melee combat has received attention too. Lucia can punch, block and dodge, while some encounters appear to involve grappling.

Money May Be Harder to Keep Safe

Rockstar also appears to be making cash more tangible.

The HUD shows separate financial indicators, while ATMs appear inside stores. The footage has prompted speculation that physical cash may need to be deposited before it becomes secure.

Other environmental clues reinforce the importance of money. Bills appear inside Lucia’s apartment, while robberies of small businesses remain a recurring activity.

Rockstar has not provided a complete explanation of GTA 6’s economy, so some interpretations remain tentative.

However, the Extended Look clearly places money at the center of Jason and Lucia’s criminal lives.

Basketball, Diving, Gym Workouts and Racing Are Confirmed

Rockstar’s open world will not revolve entirely around crime.

The presentation shows an extensive collection of GTA 6 activities. Jason can play basketball using a shot-power mechanic, while Lucia can exercise with weights.

Deep-sea diving is another playable activity. Players can also ride jet skis, use airboats, kayak and take part in off-road races.

Organized street racing appears to return, while shooting drills reward accuracy and quick eliminations. Fishing is shown as well.

Even electric scooters are usable.

These activities matter because Leonida is enormous. A large map needs reasons for players to stop exploring the main storyline and spend time in its different environments.

The Smallest Details May Be GTA 6’s Biggest Upgrade

The presentation is filled with less obvious touches.

Convertible roofs can operate while vehicles move at low speeds. Car interiors appear individually detailed. Bullets create localized damage rather than producing identical impact effects.

NPCs react to trouble around them. Lucia visibly perspires while dancing inside a crowded nightclub. Water distorts reflections around swimmers. Phone screens illuminate faces.

There are traffic jams and roadworks, potentially forcing players to reconsider routes rather than simply driving straight through every obstacle.

Fans may be surprised by how much Rockstar communicates without stopping to explain any of it.

That appears intentional.

GTA 6 Is Starting to Look Like Rockstar’s Most System-Heavy Open World

The Extended Look initially appears to be a character-driven presentation about Jason and Lucia. Underneath that story, however, Rockstar quietly demonstrates a much more complex version of Grand Theft Auto.

The six-star wanted system suggests tougher police escalation. Recognition mechanics could make escaping more involved. Vehicle theft offers different approaches. NPC interaction builds on Red Dead Redemption 2, while Jason and Lucia’s relationship appears to respond to player choices.

Then there is the sheer amount of optional content.

Basketball, scuba diving, gym workouts, kayaking, fishing, racing and shooting challenges are only the activities Rockstar chose to show. More almost certainly remain hidden.

The presentation confirms something important about GTA 6. Rockstar is not simply making a larger GTA 5 with better graphics.

It is adding systems underneath the spectacle.

That may prove to be the bigger upgrade.