Grand Theft Auto 6 is perhaps the most anticipated game of all time. This is unsurprising given the success of its predecessor, GTA 5, and Rockstar's other major series, Red Dead Redemption. Rockstar Games has become a household name not just because of the massive open worlds in its games, but also for its pedigree in storytelling. Grand Theft Auto games have historically parodied modern-day life, but GTA 5 tried to do much more, and the studio's follow-up, Red Dead Redemption 2, told one of the last console generation's most memorable stories. Fans now expect Rockstar Games to at least attempt to one-up itself with Grand Theft Auto 6.

The most obvious thing that distinguishes the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series is the setting of each franchise. Rather than focusing on modern American life, RDR captures the spirit of the Wild West. One of the other things that set the two franchises apart is Red Dead's focus on a more extensive ensemble cast. The 2010 original follows John Marston as he hunts down his former gang members, creating a dense history for both John and his adversaries. As a prequel, Red Dead Redemption 2 fully embraced this focus and put players in the shoes of one of the gang's most important members, Arthur Morgan, during the group's slow and bloody dissolution. In stark opposition, GTA 6 seems to be focused on two main characters.

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The Van Der Linde Gang Is Massive

Red Dead Redemption 2 has a huge extended cast, and the Van Der Linde Gang itself has 26 members during the game's events, with even more former members mentioned. Initially, the gang is depicted as one of the most formidable in the West. The posse initially seems too big to fail, even as it faces struggles, but throughout the game, poor leadership and silence from respected members slowly tear the found family apart. The power of RDR 2's story lies in how many lives are impacted by Arthur's decisions, especially those of Sadie Adler, Charles Smith, and the Marston family.

Grand Theft Auto Has Always Had a Smaller Cast

The Van Der Linde gang and its dozens of members are central to the stories of both Arthur Morgan and John Marston. While Grand Theft Auto 5's three main characters all have relationships with other people, the influence of the game's extended cast is comparatively minimal, and this seems like it will be the case with GTA 6 as well. GTA has always told more tight-knit stories than those of the Red Dead Redemption games, and it is doubtful that this will change. Grand Theft Auto 6's trailer indicates that it could even be the series' most intimate entry to date.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is About Lucia and Her Partner

grand theft auto 6 lucia and jason

Lucia is primed to be GTA's first major female protagonist, but she will be sharing the spotlight with her partner, who is rumored to be named Jason. The reveal trailer for the game features a segment in which Lucia tells her partner that they must trust one another to make it through their situation as a team. The story of GTA 6 will likely revolve around the duo's dynamic and investigate the way that their relationship changes, grows, and perhaps even falls apart. This limited focus already stands in stark opposition to Red Dead Redemption 2's trailers, which focus on Arthur's relationships with many members of the gang, indicating that GTA 6 will indeed be a more intimate story.

The financial success of Grand Theft Auto 6 is almost guaranteed, but that hasn't stopped Rockstar Games from taking risks with it. The switch to a female protagonist is a brave one, and centering the story around a couple means that each character must be well-written. Grand Theft Auto 6's story will likely be defined by its intimate focus, which stands in stark opposition to the studio's previous game, Red Dead Redemption 2. The switch from a huge ensemble cast to focusing on a duo isn't inherently better, but it certainly feels fitting for GTA's setting and reflective of the isolation many feel in the modern world.