The release trailer for GTA 6 showcases landscapes, characters, and the game world, serving as a starting point for a retrospective on Rockstar's past trailers. The game is set to launch on November 19; this review examines how Rockstar gradually shifted its trailer focus from activities within the open world to characters and storytelling.
Looking back, it all started with GTA 3 in 2001. The trailer at the time focused on Liberty City, vehicle driving, and street violence, with fewer narrative scenes. By GTA: Vice City, music, color, and urban atmosphere became more prominent; GTA: San Andreas further placed CJ, the story, and different regions at the center of its trailer.
GTA 4's trailer centered on Niko's experience arriving in Liberty City, placing greater emphasis on character relationships. Red Dead Redemption, meanwhile, used John Marston's narration to introduce the fading world of the Wild West.
Later, GTA 5 used short clips to present the city and its multiple protagonists; Red Dead Redemption 2 conveyed the heaviness of Arthur Morgan's era and story within about a minute. The author of this retrospective views the GTA 6 trailer as a continuation of this evolution, noting improvements in visual presentation and mechanical complexity.