In a gaming world where bigger has often been equated with better, the recent revelation by a former Rockstar developer might raise a few eyebrows. As the anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) continues to grow, this industry insider, who once played a pivotal role in crafting the crucial developments in previous GTA titles (GTA Liberty City Stories (PSP & PS2), GTA Vice City Stories (PSP & PS2), GTA Chinatown Wars (NDS), has expressed a unique desire: for the next installment to have a “smaller” map.
With every new iteration of the iconic franchise, fans have come to expect vast, sprawling game maps, each more expansive than the last. But this developer’s call for a more compact GTA 6 map challenges the conventional wisdom of game design. His thoughts left players to ponder the possibilities and reasons behind this wish. He recently revealed this in an interview with PCGamesN.
According to Anthony Gowland, GTA maps are getting dense with each addition of detail, taking away the real essence of the gameplay. He said, “In terms of what I’m hoping for, I personally would like it to bring in a little bit in terms of the size of the world. I think a smaller but more densely packed location would maybe bring back some of that memorable navigation that I loved from the original.”
When asked about GTA 6 leaks, the developer offered a viewpoint that not only sheds light on the development process but also raises crucial questions about the impact of these early peeks into the game.
He added, “The only footage I’ve seen is a couple of bits of the leaked stuff, and I stopped watching pretty quickly. I found that really heartbreaking for the team, to have all their hard work first shown to the world in such a janky and unfinished state. And I’d much rather wait for an official trailer to get really hyped.”
Our Thoughts
While the idea of reducing the size of the map in GTA 6 might add a certain compactness to the game, it’s important to consider what has made the series so iconic. GTA has never been solely about its missions and storyline; for many players (including me), it’s about the freedom to navigate an expansive world, switch cars, and engage in thrilling combat with the police. I think GTA is all about the immersiveness of the open-word and the bigger it gets the better chances for us to explore and spend our time in-game.
What do you think about the GTA 6 map? Comment below.