Grand Theft Auto 6 is no doubt at the top of many players’ lists of most-anticipated titles, as the next chapter in Rockstar’s long-running open-world crime series is well on its way. Despite rumors that GTA 6 could be delayed into 2026, the hype train is still running at full speed, with speculation running rampant about the game’s possible gameplay and narrative elements.
Though concrete, syndicated information about Grand Theft Auto 6 is fairly sparse, there’s enough intel available to be confident about certain details. Something that many fans have long assumed (thanks in part to leaks) is the game’s two-protagonist structure; GTA 6 will follow Lucia, the subject of the game’s one and only trailer, but it will also likely star her lover, referred to as Jason in the 2022 GTA 6 leaks. It would appear that Jason will be playable alongside Lucia, hearkening back to the triple-protagonist formula of Grand Theft Auto 5. Regaining the ability to swap between different characters on a whim is an exciting prospect, but there’s a way that GTA 6 could subvert expectations in this regard.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Could Take a Different Approach to Its Protagonists
Separate Campaigns for Jason and Lucia Could Be a Boon
GTA 6 will probably borrow from other Rockstar properties, as this is how game studios evolve between releases, but it may also benefit by taking a few notes from the likes of Resident Evil 2, offering distinct stories for each of its protagonists. This probably sounds like a baffling idea to anyone expecting a more direct mechanical and structural follow-up to GTA 5, but there’s a lot of potential in the concept.
For one thing, breaking up the experience into the “Lucia campaign” and the “Jason campaign” would allow Rockstar to have more control over things like pacing and the management of plot information. Fans have theorized that GTA 6 could feature a betrayal, with Jason being an undercover cop tasked with investigating Lucia’s criminal activities, and if this is the case, then players could experience this shock alongside Lucia, as they wouldn’t be privy to Jason’s story until later. Even if this exact story beat is missing from the game, the idea of being able to obfuscate aspects of each character’s life from the other, only to later get additional perspective as an audience member, could lead to any number of powerful dramatic moments.
However GTA 6 handles the Jason-Lucia relationship, it would be valuable to get a second look at the events of the story from the eyes of the other character. Perhaps players could decide which character to play as first, meaning that how one person experiences the story could be significantly different from another. Alternatively, the character-specific campaigns could be consecutive rather than concurrent, with a grander, longer narrative only coming together upon completing both. This could be like a stretched-out version of Red Dead Redemption‘s epilogues, which see characters other than the protagonist wrapping up the story.
GTA 6 Could Spill New Blood with Separate Campaigns
Obviously, relegating each playable character to their own story is more restrictive than GTA 5‘s more boundless approach, but that’s the point: greater restriction could lead to better storytelling and a more unique gameplay experience. Grand Theft Auto is known for experimentation, never shying away from creative risks, so while repeating GTA 5‘s protagonist-swapping function would be the crowd-pleasing option, it could also feel like retreading old ground. Perhaps it’s better for GTA 6 to try something new, pushing players outside their comfort zones.
