Rockstar considered giving GTA VI four protagonists, but decided to focus the story on Jason and Lucia. The team feared that splitting gameplay time among more characters would weaken players’ connection with each one.

Rob Nelson, co-head of development at Rockstar North, discussed the game’s creative decisions in an interview with IGN. He explained that the team considered different ways to expand the protagonist structure introduced in GTA V.

“We were concerned about diluting the gameplay time dedicated to each character,” Nelson said while explaining why the idea of four protagonists didn’t move forward. The final decision was to keep the story centered on the duo.

Nelson also explained that the romance between Jason and Lucia will be optional: players who want to deepen the relationship will be able to build their bond by spending time with the two of them in Leonida. Even without taking that path, they remain crime partners throughout the story.

The interview also covers systems that could connect player behavior to the world’s reactions and the development of the narrative, including the so-called Criminal Profile. Rockstar had already presented Jason and Lucia as the center of the adventure, while GTA V followed three playable characters.

Grand Theft Auto VI is Rockstar Games’ next title and is set in Leonida. It is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.