Gone are the days when players could simply press a button and steal almost any car, bicycle, motorcycle, aircraft, or tank in earlier Grand Theft Auto games. GTA 6 looks set to take vehicle theft to another level, with Rockstar Games making the mechanic more closely resemble the real world. Players may need the right tools and strategies to successfully steal certain vehicles, making the process feel less like a quick button press and more like a carefully planned heist.
While older and less desirable vehicles in the game can still be stolen using relatively simple methods, more expensive cars will come with additional layers of security, according to a video posted by IGN. Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson explained that the studio wanted to give vehicles greater meaning by introducing different levels of security and making players think more carefully about their choices. He said:
“We have put some layers of stratification into the vehicles. Previously, you could just press triangle to automatically hotwire and steal any vehicle that you wanted and take off. We felt like that left a lot of potential gameplay on the table, in terms of progression and decision-making for players. I think it gives all the vehicles more meaning and you need to pay attention to what you’re doing a bit more.”
GTA 6’s W*nk Scanner Helps Players Steal Cars
To determine how difficult a vehicle will be to steal, players can use GTA 6’s new “W*nk Scanner” to inspect cars and find information about their security systems and value. Some vehicles will feature electronic security systems, meaning players will need a digital key-cloning device to unlock them. However, acquiring certain tools will require money, while others will only become available as players progress through the story.
Even after successfully stealing a vehicle, players may have another problem to deal with: built-in GPS trackers. Some advanced tracking systems can alert law enforcement if the vehicle is driven below a certain speed, forcing players to maintain their pace while attempting to escape. Rockstar is also giving stolen vehicles a greater purpose beyond simply using them as getaway rides. Players will be able to take stolen cars to a fence and sell them, while the scanner will also reveal the cost of registering a vehicle as a personal ride.
Nelson also noted that GTA 6’s narrower, more realistic streets and dense traffic will make driving more challenging. Paired with the new theft mechanics, this could force players to improvise during getaways, potentially abandoning a car and escaping on foot when finding another vehicle becomes the only option.
