Of all the most gripping elements of GTA V online, the development of online races could take the crown as the most engaging. There were so many elements of GTA V online that set it apart from every other game in the franchise, at least from a user perspective.
So, when it comes to street racing, should we expect the same level of creativity, or could GTA 6 focus on other aspects of the racing experience, such as vehicle handling and car variety?
Innovations Carried Over From GTA V
Granted, the other Grand Theft Auto games did not have the chance to flex their muscles online, but GTA V online explored every avenue we would have liked to see in early instalments, if given the chance to bring those worlds into the digital, global market.
We’re likely to see many of these innovations integrated into GTA 6. Many believe that the casino gaming element of GTA V online will be replicated in the next, captivating chapter.
Other GTA games have explored the idea of slots, but it wasn’t until GTA V that online slots and other conventional casino games were introduced to a global market. Online slots real money games have come a long way since then, especially outside the GTA, where they now incorporate the latest technological innovations, social media marketing, and ideas in cryptocurrency and blockchain that help bolster the casino gaming experience.
So it’s going to be intriguing to see whether the new chapter will take this approach to slots, or if they will pay closer attention to more popular angles of the online play, such as heists and free-roam interactions.
Social Media Integrations
During the period between GTA V and GTA 6, social media has become an enormous part of the gaming industry and marketing. As you can see in the link below, gaming companies cover a whole range of angles to get new customers on board, and while GTA 6 certainly isn’t going to have to leverage social media to bring new customers on board, we could see it integrated within the gaming element of GTA Online.
Video gaming streamers have made huge sums of money streaming their GTA V expertise over the last decade or so. We’ve seen gamers and creators generate millions of dollars a year and comprise several of the spaces on Forbes' list of the highest-earning digital creators since the beginning of this decade.
We could see a whole host of social media integrations, ranging from streamer-friendly camera angles and photo finishes to community challenges that have grabbed huge audiences on Instagram over the last decade.
Integration Of AI
AI is the biggest tech trend of the decade so far; it’s attracted huge attention online and attracted trillions of dollars in investment. From a gaming perspective, especially in the GTA world, this could take many forms.
Firstly, we could see NPCs reacting more authentically to street racers, creating issues for those mid-race; the police in the game becoming more problematic; setting out spikers; using camera recognition; and attempting to close off roads.
We’ve seen the automation of cars unfold in the modern market, so who is to say that the cars in GTA could incorporate cruise control, automatic braking systems, and other innovations that have reshaped the modern racing world?
We don’t imagine many racers will be looking to lock in cruise control, but who knows how Rockstar could integrate it into the game's features, and whether it could be more useful if powered by intelligent AI models?
Immersive Gaming
Ardent fans of GTA Online racing may have already explored this mode, using customer-built kits like driver chairs and wheels to maximize their experience and to make it as immersive as possible. If Rockstar does put major emphasis on improving this area of online gaming, then embracing immersive gaming almost feels like the next natural step.
Admittedly, immersive technology is still a mixed bag, with some areas showing promise and others hemorrhaging cash. However, if GTA 6 racing features cutting-edge technology that focuses on the immersive experience and touches on AR and VR gaming, then this could be where we see some of the most surprising developments and advancements.
Second Guessing The Future
Guessing what Rockstar has up their sleeve for a game that has been in the pipeline for 13 years is a fool’s errand, really. Part of what has made GTA and Rockstar games as a whole so captivating is their ability to set the bar far beyond that of any other developer.
That’s not to say they have monopolized the market, there’s still some fantastic, innovative designers out there, but they simply do not have the same budget that Rockstar do. The racing feature is going to be one of the first that gamers flock to, especially online, but it is crucial that Rockstar don’t get too tied into one aspect of the game, ensuring that the story mode, online heists, and racing, all receive the same level of attention and attention to detail.