One of the biggest questions surrounding GTA 6 is just how much freedom Rockstar Games will give players during its story missions, especially with the developer promising its biggest and most detailed open world yet. The Grand Theft Auto franchise has always offered plenty of freedom outside its main missions, but the same hasn’t necessarily been true when progressing through the story. Rockstar’s missions are often cinematic, with specific objectives and sequences that players are expected to follow, even when the open world offers seemingly endless possibilities.
With GTA 6, Rockstar appears to be making a conscious effort to change that balance without sacrificing the storytelling that has become such an important part of the franchise. Netflix’s GTA 6 Extended Look back in August showcased gameplay involving Jason and Lucia, including a chaotic escape from an apartment building and a police chase involving Raul. While both sequences appeared heavily scripted at first glance, there’s apparently more going on behind the scenes than the footage might suggest. In fact, Rockstar has now provided some particularly interesting clarification about how these missions actually work.
Not Every GTA 6 Story Mission is the Same
Rockstar Games has issued a new official statement about the gameplay featured in GTA 6’s Extended Look, confirming that certain story missions offer multiple ways to complete their objectives. Speaking with IGN, Rockstar’s Rob Nelson explained that the developer is trying to give players more freedom during missions without compromising their cinematic quality. Nelson specifically highlighted 2 sequences from the Netflix Extended Look, explaining that players aren’t necessarily restricted to the routes shown in the footage:
That first mission that you saw in the [Netflix Extended Look] where they’re in the tower block trying to get out: there are multiple routes out of that tower block. Or the mission where they meet Raul and he gets in the back of the car. The first bit is on rails because you, the player as Jason, are shooting and Lucia’s driving, but then you switch and you’re driving. There is an optimal route that you’re told to get out, but if you don’t follow it, you can still get out—the mission is essentially a police chase. Anything where a mission can become systemic and it’s a wanted level or robbery system, we try to make it so that it doesn’t feel inconsistent with how the game works in the open world.
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Nelson’s comments suggest that GTA 6’s open world will be more flexible than GTA 5 in certain situations, allowing players to approach objectives differently without breaking the mission. The apartment building escape is a particularly good example, as players apparently won’t be forced to use the exact same exit every time. The sequence involving Raul is arguably even more interesting because it demonstrates how GTA 6 will transition between scripted gameplay and its open-world systems.
Jason initially handles the shooting while Lucia drives, but once players take control of the vehicle, they can escape the police using their own route. Rockstar still provides an optimal path, but following it isn’t mandatory (which could make repeat playthroughs considerably more interesting). The goal is seemingly to make these transitions feel natural, instead of treating GTA 6‘s story missions and free-roam activities as 2 completely separate experiences.
Of course, this doesn’t mean every GTA 6 mission will allow players to do whatever they want. Nelson acknowledged that certain narrative moments still require more direction, particularly when Rockstar needs specific events to happen for the story to make sense. However, the developer is clearly looking for opportunities to give players more control whenever possible.
- Released
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November 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Rating Pending – Likely Mature 17+
