When Grand Theft Auto 6 finally comes out, it wouldn't be a big surprise if the game ends up rather similar to Grand Theft Auto Online. Grand Theft Auto 6 will naturally have a very high bar to clear as the latest installment to one of the biggest game franchises in the world. With over a decade passing since Grand Theft Auto 5, fans will naturally be interested in seeing how the series will evolve after such a gap. There are a good number of ways to achieve this, but Grand Theft Auto Online may have already paved the way.
The widely viewed Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer took the internet by storm shortly after it was released at the end of 2023. After many years of speculation, it was the first time that fans got a concrete idea of what to expect from the next chapter in the Grand Theft Auto series. However, with no other major announcements in the time since (besides the colossal announcement of Grand Theft Auto 6's release date and delay), fans are once again left to speculate on what is to come.
Grand Theft Auto 6: Predicting the Most Likely Story Mode Cameos
Grand Theft Auto 6's story is in a prime position for cameos from returning characters, with a few figures seeming like the most likely candidates.
Grand Theft Auto Online Could be a Blueprint For GTA 6 To Follow
Grand Theft Auto Online is Arguably Rockstar's Flagship Title
Just acknowledging the fact that GTA Online is still seeing updates says a lot for the game's longevity. Releasing shortly after Grand Theft Auto 5, GTA Online has been lavished with attention by Rockstar. A regular stream of content, ranging from new vehicles to entirely new missions and challenges, has made sure that dedicated players have plenty to do in-game, even after running for so long. Grand Theft Auto Online is arguably the standard-bearer for the series at the moment, even without a true story campaign. For that reason, it's worth considering what GTA 6 could end up taking from the online entry.
GTA 6 Could Have Its Own Version of Freeroam Events
GTA 6 could end up taking a hint from Grand Theft Auto Online's random events. Past Grand Theft Auto titles have had random events that can trigger, usually leading to a short task or a new Stranger mission. However, these events are typically one-time incidents per save file. On the other hand, GTA Online's Freemode events offer random discoveries or mini-missions for the player to embark on. Grand Theft Auto 6 could bring this up in the form of random opportunities that Lucia or her partner could undertake while roaming the city. This feels like a natural addition to GTA's chaotic, unpredictable world.
GTA Online's Careers Could Have a Counterpart in GTA 6
Another concept that may be worth bringing into Grand Theft Auto 6 is GTA Online's criminal careers. In GTA Online, players can set up additional careers for their character, such as being a biker or a club owner, each with their own accompanying perks and missions. GTA 6 could offer something similar, providing extra paths for Lucia to take in order to gain more influence and money in Vice City. This move could add a bit of extra flavor and make this version of Vice City a little more interesting. The setting could offer plenty of interesting new career ideas as well.
Taking a few hints from GTA Online could be good for GTA 6's growth. While GTA 6's version of GTA Online will be expected to take from its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto 6 itself can also excel with some of those same features. Since Rockstar has been actively maintaining and growing Grand Theft Auto Online for the last decade, it has clearly put plenty of care into its mechanics, many of which could easily appear again, and Grand Theft Auto 6 could be a perfect place to revive some of those features.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- November 19, 2026
- ESRB
- Rating Pending - Likely Mature 17+
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.
Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.
- Engine
- Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE)
- Prequel(s)
- Grand Theft Auto 5
- Franchise
- Grand Theft Auto
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- November 19, 2026
- PS5 Release Date
- November 19, 2026
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
