This article contains spoilers for Red Dead Redemption 2.A recent replay of Red Dead Redemption 2 has made me realize that Grand Theft Auto 6 seems to have a winning formula ahead, no matter its shortcomings. With Grand Theft Auto 6, all the evidence suggests that Rockstar is taking a RDR2-esque approach to its story and characters, and that’s a good thing.
Playing Red Dead Redemption 2‘s gut-wrenching story all over again was a stark reminder of just how good its story and characters are. Arthur Morgan’s doomed individual journey, Dutch van der Linde’s descent into madness, John Marston’s growth into the man seen in the original game. Even the side cast are remarkably well-rounded. It all weaves together to make a near-perfect narrative, one that was more mature than anything Rockstar had produced prior.
Seeing this play out again gave me an epiphany. Grand Theft Auto 6 can’t fail. From the first GTA 6 trailers, it’s clear that Rockstar is emulating the Red Dead Redemption 2 formula, instead choosing to tell a Bonnie and Clyde-style story via Jason and Lucia. There are hints of heartbreak to come, with the studio once again taking a grounded and realistic approach to the narrative, albeit against the backdrop of the typically weird and wonderful world of Grand Theft Auto. As long as those story beats hit the mark, any other shortcomings Grand Theft Auto 6 may have likely won’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
After all, it’s not as if every decision Rockstar made with Red Dead Redemption 2 was popular. Despite its wide critical acclaim and vast commercial success, many players complained that Red Dead Redemption 2 was too slow, too focused on immersion, and arguably a little clunky. These complaints arose back in 2018, and somewhat remain in the backdrop even now. However, the greatness of Red Dead Redemption 2‘s story and characters overshadows this to a massive degree, and is certainly the first thing most think of when they talk about the quality of the game. That’s the trick Rockstar is looking to repeat with Grand Theft Auto 6.
As Grand Theft Auto 6‘s May 2026 release date draws ever closer, there should be even more marketing material that gives players a better idea of what to expect from the game’s story. A hint of the twists and turns to come. Fans should stay tuned over the next few months, when the picture should become clearer about whether Grand Theft Auto 6‘s story and characters can really live up to the huge legacy of Red Dead Redemption 2. The only way to know for sure is to try it out on May 26, 2026.
May 26, 2026
Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE)
May 26, 2026
