Yesterday, the nearly 30-minute gameplay demo for Grand Theft Auto VI was officially released, marking the first time official gameplay footage has been shown. While the overall online reception for this extended demo was largely positive, the game's user interface became a hot topic of discussion. Some criticized the design, others favored the minimalist style, and many players hoped for further adjustments before the official launch.
This gameplay demo premiered on Netflix before landing on YouTube. In the hours following its release, GTA fans dissected the footage frame by frame to uncover details, with the weapon and item wheel interface sparking intense online debate. This interface uses colorful icons to represent firearms, melee weapons, healing items, and clothing, a design choice that didn't sit well with some players. Screenshots flooded platforms like Twitter and Reddit, accompanied mostly by negative reviews and expressions of disappointment.
GTA content creator Ben Videotech posted on Twitter: "I'm not a big fan of this HUD so far. The minimap is okay, but the weapon wheel really doesn't suit my taste. I feel like this part needs a complete overhaul."
YouTuber The GTA Assassin stated: "I'll be bold and say it: GTA 6 needs to change this overly simplistic interface. It lacks design flair and looks low-polish. The rest of the game, however, is top-tier."
Player Gameroll said on Twitter: "Exactly, the interface is definitely my biggest complaint. I won't dwell on the GPS, as it should support customization, but the other HUD elements are merely functional. While simplicity and clarity are good, and functionality isn't an issue, I find it too dull and lacking character."
A Reddit post simply titled "The UI needs more polish" received over 500 upvotes, with numerous players agreeing in the comments that GTA 6's interface is too minimalist, rudimentary, and dull.
A player responded in the comments: "I think I can gradually accept most of the design, but I really don't like the health and focus bars. The minimalist style has stripped away all the texture from this part. Also, the weapon wheel is circular, but the icons inside are rectangular, which is a bit strange. Overall, it's still acceptable."
Another player chimed in: "True, the interface was the only part of the entire trailer that didn't surprise me. Let's wait and see; maybe Rockstar will optimize it further. It's not bad, just feels a bit too basic."
On the PC gaming subreddit, a post garnered over 3,000 upvotes. It noted that when the previous leak surfaced, many fans defended the simplistic interface as "unfinished." Commenters now joked that after such high development costs and years of polishing, GTA 6 is finally presenting such a bland interface.
A popular edited image also circulated on Reddit and social media, adding rounded corners to the GTA 6 interface. Players generally agreed that while this fan-made modification didn't solve all the issues, it did look significantly better and felt more polished.
Of course, many GTA fans support this minimalist interface and colorful icon design. Some believe Rockstar intentionally kept it simple to let players focus on the gameplay itself, while others pointed out that, aside from Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar's games have always featured clean and concise interfaces and menus.
A fan responded to the negative feedback on Twitter, saying: "I actually prefer not having a flashy HUD; it's too distracting."
Another Reddit user commented: "I quite like it; it has that classic GTA feel." Someone replied: "I think it's nice too. It looks modern and fits the Vice City vibe." Another fan agreed: "I think it's well-designed. Simplicity is perfectly fine."
Another player added: "Agreed. The small icons for each item have that Steam indie game vibe, and I mean that as a compliment. The developers know what style they're going for, and I fully support it."
A fan who liked the interface added: "I think it's fine. I don't understand why people are reacting so strongly. It's just a normal minimalist interface, and the item icons are quite detailed."
Many players also hope the interface might undergo major changes between now and the official release. But I have to dampen their spirits. Historically, Rockstar rarely makes significant changes to interfaces shown in gameplay trailers. The best example is Grand Theft Auto V's first gameplay trailer: the weapon wheel there was nearly identical to the one in the launch versions for Xbox 360 and PS3, except for a color filter added in the background.
So theoretically, Rockstar could still make significant adjustments to the weapon wheel's icons and shape. However, I believe the interface shown is likely what we'll get for GTA 6's November release. For many fans, as long as Rockstar doesn't delay the game further, the interface doesn't matter much.
Player RockStation wrote on Twitter: "Please don't delay the game because of this, bro."