GTA 6 Introduces New Challenges for Car Theft After 25 Years

Grand Theft Auto 6 is shaking things up in the classic GTA style. Escaping from the police is tougher, combat is more intense, and the storyline feels more mature. But perhaps the most significant change in GTA 6 is that, for the first time in nearly 30 years, hijacking vehicles is set to be a more engaging and challenging experience.

Following the recent trailer release, numerous previews from various sources have highlighted Rockstar’s commitment to enhancing the car theft mechanics. In previous GTA titles, players could simply approach a parked car, press a button, and jump in—sometimes breaking a window to gain access. However, stealing cars in GTA 6 is far from straightforward.

Rob Nelson, head of development at Rockstar North, shared insights on this evolution. “We’ve added layers of complexity to the vehicles,” he explained. “In the past, you could just press a button to hotwire any vehicle and drive off. We felt that limited the gameplay potential regarding progression and decision-making. Now, certain parked cars will be off-limits until you advance further in the story and acquire specific tools.”

Nelson elaborated during a conversation with a popular YouTuber, noting that different tools will be required based on the vehicle you’re targeting. For instance, in the gameplay trailer, characters Jason and Lucia use a “Slim Jim” to unlock older cars. However, newer models may require more than just breaking a window to start them.

“You don’t need anything to hotwire,” Nelson clarified. “But not all vehicles can be hotwired. Some require a key cloner to start. You can break in, but without the key cloner, you’re stuck.”

Of course, it’s still GTA, so players can still pull drivers out of fancy cars at stoplights without any tools. However, those vehicles might have trackers that the police can use to find you, adding another layer of risk. Additionally, stolen cars won’t automatically become yours; you’ll need to register them and store them in a garage to keep them, or they’ll disappear when you restart the game.

In another preview, Nelson introduced an in-game app called Waink, which allows players to scan cars for information. “For example, Waink tells me this car is locked, has an alarm, and no tracker,” he explained. “It also shows the car’s value if you take it to a Pay n’ Spray or a specialty car fence, and what it would cost to register it. Some cars need a key cloner, while others just require a Slim Jim. We’ve added a lot of fun mechanics to what used to be simple actions.”

“I think it gives all the vehicles more significance, and you’ll need to pay closer attention to your actions,” Nelson added.

I completely agree. It’s always been strange that a series named after car theft didn’t make the act itself more thrilling. In GTA 6, stealing cars promises to be a process that requires strategy and skill. While older, rundown vehicles might be easy to hijack, more luxurious cars will demand more effort, making the successful theft of a high-end supercar far more rewarding than ever before.

I can’t wait to mess up a car theft and end up with a dozen cop cars on my tail when Grand Theft Auto 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox.