A former Rockstar dev says he’d “be surprised” if Grand Theft Auto 6 didn’t borrow some systems or mechanics from Red Dead Redemption 2. Few games in recent memory have generated as much hype as the upcoming open world game, and that’s largely due to the high bar Rockstar has set with previous games like GTA 5 and RDR2. It only seems natural, then, that Grand Theft Auto 6 takes some inspiration from what came before it.
With the twice-delayed release date quickly approaching and Rockstar remaining tight-lipped, speculation about what fans can expect from the game has run wild. A recent leak revealed GTA 6 may have a procedurally generated broken glass system, and audiences have been spewing theories about the story and game mechanics since the first trailer dropped all the way back in 2023. While there still are not a whole lot of specifics out about the title, some insiders have offered insight into what could be in store.
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Former Rockstar Dev Says GTA 6 Will Likely “Use Something from Red Dead 2”
Former Rockstar audio designer Rob Carr touched on GTA 6 and what he expects to see from it in a recent interview with Kiwi Talkz, including the possibility of the game borrowing mechanics from RDR2. While he suggested Rockstar may have rebuilt GTA 6‘s engine from the ground-up, he also said he “would be incredibly surprised” if the game doesn’t bring back some older systems. Carr, who has worked on GTA 5, L.A. Noire, and both Red Dead Redemption games, said GTA 6 will likely incorporate elements from both the last Grand Theft Auto and from RDR2, largely because Rockstar has a history of expanding on what it has introduced in earlier games.
More specifically, Carr pointed out how GTA 5 used Red Dead Redemption‘s Dead Eye system as a special ability specific to Michael while giving other characters different unique perks. He also shared how the technological leaps the industry has experienced since GTA 5 and RDR2 came out present the ideal opportunity to take an old mechanic and push it to new heights. Others have previously pointed out that GTA 6 could benefit from RDR2‘s honor system, but Rockstar could also bring back elements like camps or weapon maintenance to pay homage to their earlier works while making the world of Grand Theft Auto all the more immersive. Of course, all of these possibilities are mere speculation at this point.
Reworking RDR2 mechanics or plot points into GTA 6 would make sense as a promotional tactic, too. The studio could potentially include something as an Easter egg to keep the Red Dead franchise in mind as players look forward to what’s next after GTA 6. Another ex-Rockstar dev has said they would be “shocked” if Red Dead Redemption 3 wasn’t already in development, even though the company has yet to confirm RDR3 is on the table. If that’s true, referencing RDR2 in the next GTA could be a great way to set the scene for Rockstar’s next blockbuster, especially given how the gap between the last Red Dead and the next would be significant.
For now, fans will have to wait with bated breath to see what Rockstar does. The November 19 release date is drawing ever closer, and some people believe a new GTA 6 reveal is coming soon, so it may not be long before Rockstar pulls back the curtain a little more. Whether that includes any mechanics borrowed from the last Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption 2 remains uncertain, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the studio did take inspiration from its previous work.
- Released
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November 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Rating Pending – Likely Mature 17+
