Summary
- Grand Theft Auto 6 is one of the most anticipated games of the last decade, generating significant hype with its recent trailer release.
- The game will feature a dual protagonist design, similar to Assassin's Creed Odyssey, where player decisions shape the relationship between characters and impact the narrative.
- The inclusion of diverging storylines based on the choice of protagonist and plot decisions would add replay value and showcase Rockstar's attention to detail.
With the official trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 recently dropping, and the subsequent hype it inevitably generated, Rockstar's upcoming entry in its crime action series is more in the limelight than ever, which is saying a lot. Grand Theft Auto 6 is one of the most anticipated games of the last decade. Though its announcement and reveal was slightly marred by being leaked early, that only generated more buzz, as any news about GTA 6 will be always be heartily embraced by its legions of fans.
Although seen in previous leaks, perhaps the most notable item shown off more in GTA 6's trailer is that it will feature a Bonnie and Clyde-styled couple as protagonists. A number of recent games have had a dual protagonist design, and it seems to be a rising trend. With this shift, fans are speculating on how it will play out in terms of story and gameplay. In 2018, Assassin's Creed Odyssey also had two main characters, and the unique way it integrated them could inform GTA 6.
GTA 6's Focus is Clear, and It's a Big Change
The first official trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 has shaken the industry, and the clear focus that the trailer presents is a huge change for the IP.
GTA 6 Should Take A Cue From AC Odyssey's Dual Protagonist Structure
Alexios and Kassandra in AC Odyssey
Along with being one of the many games inspired by ancient Greece, one of Assassin's Creed Odyssey's most interesting aspects is how it gives players a choice of two possible protagonists at the start of the adventure. The element that stands out, though, is whichever character they don't choose then becomes a direct foil in the main plot. Picking between siblings, Kassandra or Alexios, players then follow one's journey as they weave through events, and encounter the other at key points. As the story unfolds, tension mounts at every meeting of the two, creating an evolving dynamic informed by player decisions that eventually comes to a head.
Depending upon a branching series of choices players can make throughout its story, Odyssey molds the relationship of Alexios and Kassandra accordingly, reflecting their agency in presenting and shaping their chosen character's personality. This leads to a final confrontation, where players have to decide between reconciliation and revenge, and determine the fate of the other. It's an effective device, and adds a weight to the narrative that elevates its impact and resolution.
Fan community consensus, informed by official related material, considers Kassandra as Odyssey's canon player protagonist.
How Jason and Lucia Could Mirror Alexios and Kassandra in GTA 6
Rockstar's reputation for pushing the envelope in its titles is well-established, especially regarding story and characters. GTA 6 has a chance to use Odyssey's model as a stepping stone with Lucia and Jason. Allowing players to choose which of the two they wish to control, while keeping the other integral in interesting and surprising ways, would be a great way of shaking up the structure and giving fans something new. Their partner would still be a core part of the plot, but depending again on certain interactions, the outcomes of subsequent story events and their relationship could change significantly, while being directly influenced by player agency.
In a series known for complex and nuanced storylines, providing diverging narratives dependent upon choice of protagonist and plot decisions would also add great replay value to GTA 6. Given Rockstar and GTA's penchant for stunning detail, it would be entirely possible that GTA 6 contains two completely different storylines based on the above, which would be an incredible feat. At this point though, fans will simply have to wait and see if, and how, Rockstar takes the opportunity to one-up itself with the sixth entry.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- November 19, 2026
- ESRB
- Rating Pending - Likely Mature 17+
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- 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
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.
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
