Recently, Rockstar Games producer Rob Nelson stated that GTA 6 will allow players more freedom in completing missions whenever possible. In an interview with IGN, he said the team needs to balance player freedom with storytelling: while some plot points still require guiding the player, missions don't always have to follow a single path.
Nelson cited an example of an indoor extraction mission that allows players to choose multiple routes to exit the building. Another segment takes place after meeting Raul: initially, the player-controlled Jason provides cover fire while Lucia drives, after which the player takes over driving. The game suggests a suitable escape route, but deviating from it still offers a chance to evade the police pursuit.
Nelson also stated that the team wants systems like wanted levels and heists to function consistently when integrated into missions as they do in the open world.
This design direction also recalls criticisms of mission design in Red Dead Redemption 2. Some previous Rockstar missions required players to strictly follow designated routes, with deviations resulting in failure and a return to checkpoints; video creator NakeyJakey had praised RDR2's story while criticizing these restrictions. Nelson described the new title's direction toward greater mission flexibility and provided specific examples, but the overall impact on mission freedom and failure conditions remains to be seen upon the game's release.