Why GTA VI feels like more than just the next chapter after GTA V

WEB DESK: When Grand Theft Auto V first landed back in 2013, it was more than a game. It became a cultural milestone, breaking records and living across three console generations.

Players spent countless hours cruising through Los Santos, pulling off daring heists, or just getting lost in the chaos of Rockstar’s most ambitious project at the time.

Twelve years later, GTA VI is on the horizon, and comparisons between the two are inevitable.

But Rockstar isn’t just trying to make a bigger GTA. It’s trying to reshape what players expect from an open-world experience altogether.

A world that feels alive

Los Santos was vast and detailed, but Vice City in GTA VI is shaping up to be something else entirely. Early looks at the game show bustling neighbourhoods, evolving NPC behaviour, and a Florida-inspired landscape that doesn’t just act as a backdrop but changes as players interact with it.

While GTA V pushed the limits of its time, it often relied on scripted patterns. The new entry seems determined to create a living, breathing world where even a random passer-by might surprise you.

Technology makes the difference

Back in 2013, consoles were still struggling with memory limits. GTA V delivered incredible visuals then, but much of what Rockstar wanted had to be scaled down. Fast forward to today, and GTA VI is being built for modern hardware from the ground up.

That means richer graphics, smoother animations, and AI-driven systems that weren’t possible before. The leap feels less like GTA V to VI and more like VHS to streaming, same idea, completely different execution.

Storytelling at a new level

GTA V gave us three protagonists and interwoven stories, a bold move that kept the narrative fresh. GTA VI narrows the focus to a Bonnie-and-Clyde-style duo, promising a more personal storyline.

Where GTA V was about scale and variety, VI seems to be about depth and emotional connection. If Rockstar pulls it off, it could give the series its most human story yet.

The legacy factor

Of course, GTA V isn’t just any predecessor. It sold over 195 million copies and defined a generation of gaming. Its online mode still keeps millions engaged. That sets a towering benchmark for GTA VI. But Rockstar thrives on expectation.

If history is any guide, GTA VI won’t just match its predecessor, it will raise the bar in ways we don’t yet fully grasp.

In short, GTA VI isn’t here to replace GTA V. It’s here to remind us why Rockstar still sits at the top of the open-world throne.