Rob Nelson, co-head of Rockstar North, the Rockstar Games studio in Edinburgh developing the game, said Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) will expand freedom in missions and make more room for robberies and thefts in Leonida's open world, an environment that can be freely explored between missions.

Nelson spoke to IGN about the game after presenting a GTA VI demo in Edinburgh.

While explaining the mission design, Nelson said the team sought to expand the player's options. According to him, the goal is to offer more ways to act without giving up more narrative-driven sequences when they're necessary.

Robberies are expected to play a bigger role in the game's day-to-day activities. Nelson described the possibility of stealing “practically anything,” including smaller businesses, while vehicle thefts may require players to assess locks, alarms, trackers, tools, and the presence of witnesses.

The change reinforces a central idea behind the production: Leonida was designed to be explored and experienced outside the main sequence of missions. Jason and Lucia, the two protagonists, will be able to take part in activities in the open world beyond the campaign.

Rockstar had already presented an extended demo in August, recorded with footage of the game running on a PlayStation 5, Sony's current console, and described by the company as a showcase of GTA VI's scale and immersion. Nelson's comments detail how that ambition is expected to appear in practice, especially in crimes, getaways, and the freedom to choose different approaches.

Grand Theft Auto VI is Rockstar Games' next game, set in Leonida, the fictional state where GTA VI takes place. It includes Vice City, Leonida's main fictional city, and other regions of the state, including Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia, and Mount Kalaga National Park. It is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Sony's current console, and Xbox Series X|S, Microsoft's current consoles.