In previous GTA games, car theft was the series' most mindless action—walk up to a vehicle, tap the triangle button, and within seconds the engine roars to life and you're speeding off. According to IGN's latest hands-on report, this mechanic is getting a complete overhaul in Grand Theft Auto VI.
Rockstar co-studio head Rob Nelson told IGN: "We've added layers to the vehicles. Before, you'd just press triangle and auto-hotwire whatever car you wanted and drive off. We felt that wasted a lot of potential for progression and player decision-making."
Under the new system, some parked vehicles will be off-limits at the start of the game—players will need to progress through the story and acquire the right tools before they can crack them open. That said, Nelson clarified that players can still target occupied vehicles on the road at any time—the classic carjack move remains untouched by this new system.
The real change lies in how vehicles differ from one another. Per IGN's report, cars equipped with electronic key fobs may require a key cloner to drive away, while some models with built-in GPS will force players to maintain a specific speed to avoid triggering an alarm. The game will also include an in-world app letting players look up which tools a given vehicle requires—and how much it's actually worth.
In effect, this turns "which car to steal" from a simple means of transportation into a decision that requires weighing tools and risk beforehand.
Meanwhile, a leaker going by "Cyberleek" continues to release game footage ahead of Netflix's official trailer drop, a situation Rockstar has described as "heartbreaking." Parent company Take-Two is currently trying to track down the source of the leaks, but no identity has been made public so far.
Rockstar has yet to officially announce a release date or further system details for Grand Theft Auto VI.
