Ever since Grand Theft Auto VI was first revealed, it has been clear that Rockstar is aiming for a considerably more serious tone than it used in GTA V. The developer has now confirmed that Red Dead Redemption 2, and Arthur Morgan in particular, had a major influence on the way Jason and Lucia have been designed.

One of the first things that stood out after the reveal of Grand Theft Auto VI was that the new entry appeared to be taking itself much more seriously than its predecessor. Several details suggested that Rockstar was drawing at least as much inspiration from Red Dead Redemption 2 as from GTA V itself. Now, three months before the game’s official release, the developer has essentially confirmed that impression. Rockstar wants players to form an emotional connection with Jason and Lucia that is comparable to the bond many developed with Arthur Morgan.

The Most Human Grand Theft Auto Yet

Rockstar North co-director Rob Nelson discussed the subject in an interview with French publication TroisCouleurs, explaining that Red Dead Redemption 2 represented a genuine turning point for the studio and had a major influence on GTA VI. “We wanted to build upon the depth and meaningful way of interacting with the world that we had achieved in RDR 2, but also that emotional connection that people developed with Arthur… We asked ourselves if there was a way for Grand Theft Auto to have something like that, and how to achieve it.”

That pursuit of a stronger emotional connection has influenced several major design decisions. Rockstar built the story around two protagonists, introduced an honor system, and wants player choices to carry greater weight. Yet the most important moments in developing the bond between Jason, Lucia, and the player may often be the ones that initially seem insignificant. “You’re not only in the characters’ shoes during action scenes, but also in the quietest moments… We want to give players the opportunity, just as we did with Arthur, for their actions to influence the characters’ trajectories,” Rockstar explained.

Jason and Lucia’s relationship may therefore develop differently depending on the player’s actions. Rockstar’s idea is that spending time with the characters during ordinary, less plot-driven moments will make the player far more emotionally invested when something genuinely serious happens. Nelson offered one specific example: “When you suddenly see Lucia thrown down the stairs, your character switches to Jason and you can’t hear her… it creates a sense of unease. Playing with these ideas and these more relaxed moments in the apartment leads to situations that people can relate to.”

The developers want Jason and Lucia to feel more human than the protagonists of GTA V, and that means showing not only their criminal lives but also their everyday existence. The characters will have lives beyond robberies, gunfights, and police chases, with quieter experiences that may feel much closer to situations players recognize from their own lives. Those smaller and calmer moments can establish the emotional foundation that later gives dramatic events far greater weight. In that respect, Arthur Morgan’s influence on the new game is unmistakable.

Rockstar will obviously face an enormous challenge if it hopes to reproduce the emotional impact of Red Dead Redemption 2, whose Arthur Morgan became one of gaming’s most memorable protagonists. This is not, however, the first time Grand Theft Auto has embraced a more serious and emotional tone. Grand Theft Auto IV already took a darker approach with Niko Bellic and did an effective job of making players empathize with its protagonist. With GTA VI, however, Rockstar’s ambitions appear to be considerably greater.

Source: 3DJuegos