New GTA 6 Trailer Makes GTA 5’s Biggest Gamble Look Like a Mistake

Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of Rockstar’s most ambitious games. Well, that was true until Grand Theft Auto 6 came into the picture. In any case, one of the most interesting features of the previous title is that it has three playable protagonists who have their own personalities, goals, and problems. This means that players get to experience three different lives, which is a great way to make a story more diverse. Of course, any other decision like this comes with drawbacks as well, such as having less room to explore a character’s personal struggles in more depth.

In any case, after the release of the new launch trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6, it seems like Rockstar might be taking a different approach this time around. It has been known for a while now that GTA 6 will have only two protagonists, but after the new trailer dropped, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the studio will put Jason and Lucia’s dependence on each other front and center. If the studio manages to pull this off, GTA 6 could make players feel more emotionally invested in its protagonists than GTA 5 ever did.

GTA 5’s Three Protagonists Made It Harder to Focus on Any One Story

Many would agree that the best aspect of GTA 5 was that Michael, Trevor, and Franklin have very different personal problems, which gives players several perspectives on the game’s world. For example, as Michael is struggling with his dysfunctional family, Franklin is trying his best to escape his current lifestyle, and Trevor is running his own drug operations. However, because all these characters have to share the same story, none of their narratives can receive the full attention they deserve.

Of course, GTA 5 does a great job switching between the three protagonists, but GTA 6 has the potential to exceed all expectations when it comes to storytelling. This may not be because the writers have changed, but solely because it’s easier to switch between two characters instead of three. Moreover, since they are so dependent on each other, their stories will be deeply intertwined, which will not require the writers to constantly interrupt one storyline to focus on another.

GTA 6 Could Make Its Characters’ Relationship Matter More Than the Crime

When it comes to GTA 5, even though the protagonists often work together because they have a common objective, their cooperation is often driven solely by the crimes they are committing. On the other hand, in Grand Theft Auto 6, Jason and Lucia will find themselves in a criminal conspiracy where relying on each other might be the only way out. This creates an opportunity for their relationship to become just as important as the crimes, especially considering their decisions will probably be heavily influenced by what they are willing to sacrifice for each other.

It’s important to note that GTA 5‘s approach might have certain flaws, but many would agree that the ability to jump from one character to another is a feature that provides immense freedom and makes the world feel dynamic. However, this also means that when you switch to a different protagonist, the previous character’s problems stay somewhere in the background until you get back to them. GTA 6 now has the opportunity to address this weakness, considering how connected the two protagonists will be. In other words, their shared problems will be quite difficult to escape, no matter which one of them the player is controlling. Moreover, this forces players to think about the fact that one wrong move will influence the other protagonist as well, which could make the story feel much more personal.

GTA 6 Still Has to Prove That Two Protagonists Are Better Than Three

No matter the drawbacks, the three-protagonist structure of GTA 5 was quite successful, and it remains one of the most distinctive features the game has. Besides, cutting out protagonists does not always guarantee that the story will be told well or that there won’t be any hiccups when it comes to how immersive or believable the world is. And although it seems like Jason and Lucia’s relationship might help deliver a compelling story, this is something that the trailer alone simply can’t prove.

Nevertheless, it would be quite interesting to see how their relationship will influence the way we experience the story. Now, whether this approach will even outdo GTA 5‘s also remains unclear, but there’s no doubt that players will share their opinion about it as soon as possible after the game is released. It will also be worth seeing which character most people will get more attached to as they progress through the campaign. Or maybe they will get equally attached to both since their fates are so closely intertwined. In any case, whether Rockstar’s new approach will outdo GTA 5‘s remains to be seen.

Systems

Released

November 19, 2026

ESRB

Rating Pending – Likely Mature 17+