Former Rockstar dev says GTA 6 will likely reuse fan-favorite systems from RDR2

Former Rockstar Games developer Robb Carr, who worked on RDR2, Grand Theft Auto V, and L.A. Noire, believes the studio’s upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI will likely pull and reuse ideas and features from Red Dead Redemption 2, which released at the tail end of 2018.

Ex-Rockstar developer reveals why GTA VI might reuse RDR2 mechanics like Dead Eye

Robb Carr worked as an audio designer on multiple mainline Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption titles, and in a new interview with Kiwi Talkz, he discussed his personal opinion on why Rockstar might borrow elements from Red Dead Redemption 2.

First and foremost, Carr pointed to GTA V. He said that the game took the slow-motion special ability Dead Eye from Red Dead Redemption and turned it into Michael’s special ability. He explained, “Even on GTA V they took the Dead Eye system. They used the Dead Eye as one of the perks for one of the main characters. You’ve got the Dead Eye thing that Michael used. I think you’ve got the slow-mo driving thing for Franklin and the basically berserker mode for Trevor.”

According to the former developer who worked on GTA V, these mechanics weren’t mere one-off features but ways to expand upon the player’s arsenal, the game’s systems and mechanics that the team had already been testing and loved in prior titles like Max Payne.

Carr continued, “They’re all the things that you know. Key things that have been used in previous titles, they wanted to expand upon.”

GTA VI could take RDR2’s realism further with smarter NPCs and reactive world design

It’s hard to disagree with Carr, and many gamers seem to feel the same way, considering RDR2 released back in 2018 and raised the bar for open-world games, with horses that reacted realistically to weather, dynamic notoriety systems where strangers remembered how you treated them, and a map enriched with tiny details that made exploration all the more worthwhile.

Looking ahead, GTA VI is currently slated for a November 19, 2026, release date and is one of the most hyped and long-awaited video games since GTA V’s launch more than a decade ago. Fans are wondering if the game will borrow features like RDR2’s honor-style reputation system to influence how Vice City police officers and civilians react to and treat the player in Leonida.

Carr ended the interview by stating he won’t be spilling any secrets about Grand Theft Auto VI. He’s just predicting what might make it into the final game, based on his guesswork and years of experience inside Rockstar Games. He said, “I’d be incredibly surprised if they don’t do anything like that. I’d be very, very surprised. I’ll be surprised if they don’t use something from Red Dead 2.”