The next Grand Theft Auto game might be on the brink of revolutionizing in-game character animations, as per Take-Two Interactive’s latest patent. Rockstar Games’ parent company patented a state-of-the-art locomotive technology that is slated to give GTA 6 an unparalleled depth in terms of “highly dynamic and realistic animations”.
The discovery of this innovative technology first came to light when a diligent Redditor by the name u/Tobbelobben30 on Reddit noted a patent associated with Tobias Kleanthous. For those unaware, Kleanthous had been affiliated with the company from 2014 till the tail-end of 2021, focusing primarily on AI, gameplay, and animation. Intriguingly, his stint at Rockstar also saw him emerge as the lead inventor and author of a patent.
As per Kleanthous’ LinkedIn profile, the System and Method for Virtual Character Locomotion patent revolves around “animated locomotion control”, anchored firmly in the core technology he helped sculpt at Rockstar Games.
This Take-Two Patent About GTA 6 Hints Towards Highly Dynamic and Realistic Animations
byu/Tobbelobben30 inGTA6
Delving deeper into the patent’s mechanics, it reveals a pioneering approach to in-game character movement. Instead of relying on isolated animations for distinct situations – like a character walking under the rain or nursing an injury – the system employs a repertoire of “building blocks” for movements. These blocks, versatile in their usage, can mesh in a multitude of combinations to spawn a vast array of animations. The result? A more organic and adaptive animation system.
What this means for GTA 6 is nothing short of a transformative experience. In-game characters, be it one of the main protagonists or the myriad of NPCs populating the streets, can react dynamically, matching weather conditions, their energy levels, and the kind of injuries they sustain. This kind of nuanced system will propel the game’s immersion factor to unprecedented heights. It’s as though characters aren’t mere digital constructs, but living entities adept at navigating the multifaceted challenges of their environment.
Furthermore, eagle-eyed observers appear to have seen traces of the new locomotion technology in the code snippets from the leaked GTA 6 data. In fact, a prime example of this is evident in the leaked GTA 6 footage last year, like when Lucia is looting cash from the countertop in the Diner robbery clip or when Jason is crawling and pushes the boxes out of his way.
Rockstar is a company that prides itself in innovation. While its latest AAA outing, Red Dead Redemption, was critically acclaim for its lifelike animations, among others, it wasn’t perfect. Certain segments felt cumbersome, hindering the gameplay, such as when you’re looting. This new patent could be Rockstar’s way of ironing out the RAGE Engine’s kinks.
Unfortunately, all of these patents can’t tell us just how far along GTA 6 is in the game’s development. But, if we go by what Tom Henderson just said – GTA 6 is still coming out on or before 2025.
In the meantime, feel free to check out a recent interview with former Rockstar developer, Tony Gowland, who prefers to see GTA 6 take place in a smaller but denser setting.
Rockstar officially confirmed Grand Theft Auto 6 in February 2022. But, outside of an official statement addressing last year’s leaks, it has remained silent about its development. However, this hasn’t stopped Take-Two from hyping it up as a game that will set a “creative benchmark”.
