Much has been said about Grand Theft Auto 6, especially now that Rockstar Games has confirmed that it will release the first trailer at some point next month – some believe it will be at The Game Awards, but we all thought the same thing about The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered and we all know how that turned out. As fans wait for their first glimpse at GTA 6, the internet couldn’t help but “predict” how much better the game could look by using Red Dead Redemption 2 as an example.
A recent video highlighting the potential of volumetric clouds in Red Dead Redemption 2 has gone viral for how it may potentially be how great GTA 6 will look with its new RAGE engine. Given the strides that the video game industry have made since RDR2 came out, including Rockstar, it’s only a given that GTA 6 will look even better on the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, and, most especially, on high-end PCs. But, the video proves just how forward-thinking Rockstar has been all of this time.
It’s safe to say that GTA 6 will set, not just a creative benchmark, but a new standard in gaming visuals, leveraging the latest advancements in graphics technology. The discussion around the game’s visual capabilities is particularly focused on its environmental rendering, specifically the portrayal of weather phenomena and atmospheric effects. A comparison with the already impressive Red Dead Redemption 2, which uses an earlier version of the RAGE engine, suggests that GTA 6 will substantially advance in this area.
One of the most talked-about aspects is the game’s potential to feature realistic and immersive weather conditions such as its volumetric clouds. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of such a feature. It adds a layer of immersion and realism to the gaming experience. Imagine navigating through dynamic weather systems in-game, from tranquil, sunny skies to the menacing approach of a thunderstorm, complete with lightning strikes. The possibility of hurricane-force winds and waves, especially given the game’s rumored Miami/Florida setting – Vice City is based on Miami City – adds to the excitement and raises expectations for a hurricane mission or other weather-related gameplay elements.
The graphical leap from RDR2 to GTA 6 is expected to be significant. RDR2, released in 2018, still stands as a benchmark for visual fidelity in gaming, boasting stunning textures and lighting that contribute to a highly immersive experience. It portrays environments, particularly the night scenes with lanterns illuminating the woods, that put other recent games to shame. A game like this is hard to come by and it only serves to prove Rockstar’s attention to detail and dedication to creating a lifelike gaming world. But, with GTA 6, the leap in quality is expected to be even more pronounced.
Rockstar’s commitment to improving graphical assets was evident in RDR2, which included highly detailed clouds that’s capable of maintaining their realism and density even from high vantage points, even if they only came in handy during that one mission concerning a hot air balloon. This commitment is expected to carry over into GTA 6, with realistic and dynamic environmental elements.
Keep in mind that, unlike Red Dead Redemption 2, which is mostly grounded in realism, GTA 6 is more off the rails. Can you imagine flying through lifelike volumetric clouds with an FH-1 Hunter that you spawned with a cheat code? How about a mission that lets you fly a jet plane across the city and up in the clouds?
The viral video have drawn comparisons with other titles, specifically Star Citizen and Squadron 42. But, don’t forget, it’s still running on an older version of the RAGE engine. GTA 6 could look significantly better, a prospect that might seem impossible if you think about it.
However, we hope that Rockstar adopts a slightly different visual style. While the highly cinematic and HDR-heavy style worked for RDR2, a more nuanced approach to visual realism could suit the urban and contemporary setting of GTA 6 better, offering a proper balance between realism and a filmic aesthetic.
The visual fidelity of GTA 6, particularly its volumetric clouds and weather effects, isn’t just about pushing the graphical boundaries; it’s about enhancing the player’s immersion in a world that feels alive and dynamic. The excitement around these developments indicates a growing appreciation for environmental realism in video games, where weather and atmospheric conditions play a crucial role in creating a believable and engaging virtual world.
As the release of GTA 6’s initial trailer approaches, fans eagerly await for what could be a transformative moment in the history of video game visuals.
Take Two Interactive CEO, Strauss Zelnick, recently spent time talking about GTA 6, including a bit about the low pricing of video games today. According to the ever-vocal executive, the SAG-AFTRA strike will not affect GTA 6’s development if it extends to the video game industry. Finally, Rubi Rose recently pitched for her likeness to be used for GTA 6.
