Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to be bigger and more engaging than any of Rockstar Games' previous installments. In the world of GTA, this could quite possibly be true. When considering all of Rockstar's video games, it is hard to imagine any game can top the level of engagement of Red Dead Redemption 2's story, primarily down to one of the video games' most iconic protagonists - Arthur Morgan.

Grand Theft Auto certainly has a cast of famous characters, such as Trevor Phillips, Tommy Vercetti, or Carl "CJ" Johnson, but even all those heavy-hitters do not hold a candle to the stage-presence Arthur held during his cowboy adventures. With a character arc like Arthur's and a wild world like GTA 5 used in the same game, Rockstar could even have a chance to top its own previous popular games.

The Combination Of GTA 5's Energy And Red Dead Redemption 2's Emotion

GTA 6 Could Utilize Both Their Strengths

GTA 5 is still one of the most popular games being played over 10 years after its release, but that is primarily due to its multiplayer capabilities rather than the game's single-player story. GTA Online's world has so much to do and enjoy, the level of energy within the game is unparalleled, drawn from the concepts of its single-player experience. It is a manic world with exciting missions, vehicles, and locations, and its characters may be memorable, but they do not stand out as what brought the game success - GTAO did.

Red Dead 2 is the opposite. The online game was not nearly as impactful to gaming culture as GTA 5, and it dwindled where the other soared. What makes Red Dead 2 still extremely popular is the journey of Arthur in the single-player game, shown when he was named the 11th most iconic video game character of all time by a BAFTA player poll. He is still just as popular as when the game released in 2018. His journey defined the game and Rockstar should apply what it learned to future games.

The Best Story Beats Of Red Dead Redemption 2 Could Be Recreated

Arthur Had The Most Enthralling Story

Arthur's arc is one of becoming a better man and understanding the purposefulness of selfless actions. His loyalty to Dutch crumbles as what the Van der Linde Gang once stood for as bandits is becoming twisted by Dutch's ambitions and Micah's manipulations. Not only is the overall message of the story engaging, but also individual plot points, such as Micah's betrayal of the gang and Arthur's slow decline and death after contracting tuberculosis. Moments like this build the character's endearing qualities to the player through its transformative story beats.

Rockstar has an opportunity to draw from Arthur's journey, like the betrayal and his reflection of who he is, and use them for Lucia or Jason. It would perhaps be a bit too hard-hitting to have another painful death of a hero; players went through enough emotional turmoil with Arthur's conclusion. By taking what worked with Arthur's arc and then using it in a Vice City setting, Rockstar can have the best of both worlds - a high-energy Grand Theft Auto 6 world with the heart of Red Dead Redemption 2's protagonist.

Source: BAFTA