Recently, new details about NPCs in GTA 6 have been revealed, including overweight police officers, NPC clothing, and NPC behavior patterns. This new information comes from a conversation between Italian gaming influencer MikeShowSha and Rob Nelson, head of Rockstar North, during a preview event.
The GTA series has always been known for its realistic open-world experience, largely thanks to NPC behavior. The upcoming GTA 6 will further enhance this aspect. It has been confirmed that numerous new animations will give each NPC unique appearances and behaviors. Meanwhile, we've also learned more about the logic behind these characters' actions.
NPC reactions change depending on whether the player has their weapon drawn. Some NPCs will actively approach the player, attempting to disarm them. Others will flee or show fear. Similar scenes appeared in the extended GTA 6 trailer, where an NPC approached Lucia during a robbery.
During the demo, Mike got into a fight with two NPCs, one of whom dropped their hat and glasses. These items remain on the ground, allowing Jason to pick them up and wear them immediately. This feature can be used to change the protagonist's appearance and serve as a disguise when evading police pursuit.
While playing the GTA demo, Mike observed the behavior of police NPCs and noticed significant differences in their physical fitness. At one point, an overweight officer chased Jason on foot, but Jason managed to shake him off. Looking back, he could see the officer bent over, exhausted and gasping for breath.
All the impactful police car collisions seen in the extended trailer are unscripted. During the demo, Rob Nelson shot at police cars, and each vehicle's damage and collision feedback varied. He even recreated a crash similar to the one in the trailer.
Mike discovered two new NPC behaviors during his playthrough. When robbing a regular store, if the player threatens the cashier, they will reveal there is a safe in the back room. Players can then choose: either go after the larger sum of money or escape with the cash already in hand.
The open world of GTA 6 will also feature random crime events: two masked women get into trouble while robbing a jewelry store and ask Jason and Lucia for help. Players can choose to assist them and then seize the jewelry for themselves. Rockstar revealed to Mike that even during internal testing, the development team couldn't trigger this random event for several consecutive months.
NPCs in GTA 6 wear outfits that match their surroundings. Mike observed that most NPCs near the gym were dressed in sportswear, while those in Jason's neighborhood wore casual everyday clothes.