What Are the New GTA 6 Gameplay Features?

The new GTA 6 gameplay features center on two switchable protagonists, a reactive open world, and crime systems with real consequences. Confirmed features include character switching between Jason and Lucia, Red Dead-style NPC interactions, tiered robberies, a full car-theft system, lifestyle mechanics like the gym and weight, and a phone treated as a real in-game item.

After the Extended Look, there is far more solid ground to stand on than there used to be.

Two leads, properly integrated. You play as both Jason and Lucia, and switching works in the open world and inside missions. In team jobs, switching becomes part of the action—Lucia driving while Jason fires at the cars chasing you. Unlike GTA 5’s instant menu swap between three protagonists, GTA 6 character switching is instant when they are nearby or in the same vehicle or room; if they are far apart, the camera pans across the map before handing you control. It plays as a tactical choice rather than a panic button.

A tracked partnership. The time you spend together and the jobs you pull as a pair feed into Jason and Lucia’s relationship, which shapes dialogue and some story beats. There is an optional romance early on, though it leans toward roleplay and flavor rather than big perks. Solo, you can call or text your partner to come join you.

A world that reacts. The Red Dead Redemption 2 interaction system returns, so you can greet, threaten, rob, or defuse with NPCs, and how they respond depends on your look, your reputation, and the time of day. You can eavesdrop, pet or scold a dog, open a fridge for food and drink, or watch people through binoculars.

Crime with structure. Robberies come in tiers, from quick store holdups to planned jobs, and rushing versus doing it clean changes both the payout and the risk. Money is split between cash on you and money in the bank, stolen goods move through fences, and some cars carry trackers that force you to speed off or ditch them.

A full car-theft system. You can scan a car with your phone to check its value, locks, alarm, and tracker, then break in with a slim jim on older cars or a key cloner on modern ones. Classic carjacking still works when someone is in the seat.

Lifestyle that shows. For the first time since San Andreas, your body responds to how you live. The gym builds muscle, junk food and drinking add weight, and long stressful nights leave Jason and Lucia looking worn. Safehouses let you change clothes, shave, cut your hair, eat, and sleep.

For the full list of things to do out there, see our GTA 6 activities guide.

How Does GTA 6 Character Switching Work?

GTA 6 lets you switch between Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos both in the open world and inside missions. In duo jobs, switching becomes a tactical part of the action, such as one character driving while the other shoots at pursuers. Switching is instant when they are nearby or in the same vehicle or room; if they are far apart, the camera pans across the map before handing you control.

Solo, you can call or text your partner to come join you, and the partnership itself is tracked over time, feeding into dialogue and some story beats. For more on the two leads and the wider cast, see our GTA 6 characters guide.

Good to know: Not every GTA 6 gameplay video online is real. Most are either the genuine 2022 leak, fan-made recreations, or edited trailer footage. The only official gameplay shown so far is Rockstar’s August 27, 2026 Extended Look and related previews. Treat any new “secret leak” claims with caution.

How Do NPC Interactions Work in GTA 6?

GTA 6 brings back the Red Dead Redemption 2 interaction system, letting you greet, threaten, rob, or defuse situations with NPCs. How they react depends on three factors: your appearance, your reputation, and the time of day.

Beyond direct confrontation, the world invites you to observe and meddle. You can eavesdrop on conversations, pet or scold dogs, open a fridge for food and drink, or watch people from a distance through binoculars. These small touches are what make Leonida feel populated rather than staged.

What GTA 6 Features Are Confirmed vs Still a Leak?

Confirmed GTA 6 features are those Rockstar has shown on screen, while leaked details still come only from the 2022 source. This distinction is where most GTA 6 gameplay guides trip up.

Before the Extended Look, many popular details came only from the 2022 leak. Some of those are now confirmed on screen, including the six-star wanted system, the reworked weapon wheel, and the limited carry system. Others still are not.

Treat the following as unconfirmed until Rockstar shows them:

• The exact number of enterable buildings. The popular “700+” figure comes from leaks and analyst estimates, not an official count. Rockstar North’s Rob Nelson has only called the number of interiors “enormous.”
• Specific weapon stats and attachment tables.
• A confirmed 60 FPS performance mode.
• Anything about a GTA 6 online mode.

Pro tip: When you see a GTA 6 gameplay leak video now, check the date first. Anything labeled a leak from before August 27, 2026 is either the old 2022 build or a fan edit, not the real reveal.

Will GTA 6 Run at 60fps?

GTA 6 is targeting 30 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S at launch, based on comments from Rockstar North’s Rob Nelson and analysis of the Extended Look footage. Rockstar has not confirmed a 60 FPS performance mode, and any higher frame-rate option remains unannounced.

Combat, Wanted, and the Map

A few of the biggest systems have their own full guides, so this page won’t repeat them. Combat has been overhauled: lock-on auto-aim is gone, replaced by manual aiming with aim assist, plus Lucia’s Focus slow-mo shot and Jason’s weak-point highlight—full details are in our GTA 6 weapons and combat guide. Police mechanics, including the six-star wanted system and Criminal Profile, are covered in our GTA 6 Wanted System guide. For the regions and scale of Leonida, see our GTA 6 map guide.

GTANerd Analysis

Here is our take, clearly marked as analysis. The most telling thing about GTA 6’s confirmed features is that so many of them are about consequence, not spectacle.

Look at what Rockstar chose to build. A wanted system that tracks what you wear and drive. A Criminal Profile that remembers how you pull jobs. A relationship that shifts with how you treat your partner. A body that changes based on how you live. None of those are box-art bullet points. They are systems designed to make the world feel like it is paying attention to you.

That points to a game built around immersion and reaction rather than a feature checklist. The mechanics people argue about—carry limits and frame rates—matter less than the quieter idea running through all of it: that in Leonida your choices leave a mark. That is our reading, not a promise, but it lines up with everything Rockstar has actually shown.

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