GTA 6 and Red Dead Redemption 2 Image Comparison Shows Massive Graphical Upgrade

Grand Theft Auto 6 is almost within reach, and as the wait drags on, fans have noticed just how much Rockstar’s visuals have improved since Red Dead Redemption 2. While the studio has been busy working on upcoming projects and pumping out remasters of its older ones, it’s been nearly eight years since its last brand-new release. That’s quite the gap, and it means Grand Theft Auto 6 has multiple years of technological improvements to distinguish it from its predecessors.

As GTA 6‘s November 19 release date inches ever closer, gamers are eager for another look at it. More trailers are sure to come, but Rockstar has remained quiet for the time being, leading fans to continue digging into what has been released up until this point. There’s plenty within the existing trailers to pick apart, too, including evidence of how much better GTA 6‘s graphics are than the last GTA game, and that visual leap applies to Rockstar’s last game, too.

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Side-by-Side Comparison Highlights Graphical Leap Between RDR2 and GTA 6

A comparison posted by Redditor Fun_Philosopher_2535 shows how much more detailed an iguana asset in GTA 6 is compared to a similar one in Red Dead Redemption 2. That may not sound too surprising, as the latter came out all the way back in 2018 and was developed for the PS4 and Xbox One generation. However, the OP points out how taking the time to upgrade such a minor part of the game shows an extreme attention to detail. It’s also worth noting that RDR2 looks better than many current-gen games, despite its age, so a stark visual improvement is still impressive.

When GTA 6 finally comes out in November, it will be Rockstar’s first game native to the PS5 and Xbox Series X generation. The studio has released updated versions of GTA 5 and the original Red Dead Redemption, among other re-releases, but these are all remasters, still relying on older underlying architecture. On top of being made specifically for a new console generation, GTA 6 may have an entirely rebuilt engine, according to one former Rockstar dev, which could offer players a massive leap over earlier games, not just in visuals but possibly in physics and other areas of gameplay.

Not everyone is happy about the game’s improved iguana visuals. Some users have said such a fixation on graphics is what leads to decades-long dev cycles. Even before its most recent delay, GTA 6 had a longer development cycle than any other Rockstar game, stretching all the way back to 2014. It’s impossible to say whether that long wait, and the game’s reportedly sky-high budget, are purely the result of extensive visual updates, but it is easy to see where these complaints come from.

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Only time will tell if GTA 6 has the gameplay to back up its shiny trailers. For the time being, some are blown away by the visuals fans have seen so far, some say improving the lighting or replacing decades-old assets is less exciting, and some are just nervous about the game apart from its graphics. Whichever camp fans may fall into, it won’t be long before people can form a more informed opinion for themselves. The fiscal year of GTA 6‘s release has officially begun, so there are just months left before it’s out in the wild.