How GTA 6 Can Put a Modern Twist on Arthur's Notebook From RDR 2

Grand Theft Auto 6 has become a breeding ground for speculation and rumors, as it’s drawing close to the first anniversary of the game’s announcement trailer. December 2023 finally made GTA 6 a reality, and its planned fall 2025 release date is inching nearer each day. Despite the release of its first and only cinematic trailer, Rockstar has yet to reveal any more information about the game.

The last game Rockstar released was Red Dead Redemption 2 back in 2018, and it is still hailed as one of the best stories in gaming. From the graphics to the narrative, the game still holds up for many, and with Rockstar being at the reins, many have wondered how Red Dead Redemption 2 will influence GTA 6. There are even theories that Red Dead Redemption 2‘s Guarma chapter was a testing ground for GTA 6. Although its predecessor’s influence isn’t clear yet, GTA 6 could find a fascinating way to bring protagonist Arthur Morgan’s journal mechanic into a modern setting.

Why GTA 6 Could Be the Ideal Home for a Fan-Favorite San Andreas Feature

GTA: San Andreas was home to a now-forgotten gameplay feature that GTA 6 is well-poised to bring back, making it better than ever.

Arthur Morgan’s Journal Could Inform a Major Part of GTA 6’s Gameplay

The GTA franchise has been no stranger to satirizing modern day trends, and based on footage from the trailer, GTA 6 isn’t holding back any time soon. A big focus of the trailer’s clips involve outrageous moments documented and posted to social media. With Vice City and the greater state of Leonida being inspired by Miami and Florida, the viral nature of crazy videos and head-scratching crimes is bound to be front and center. In Red Dead Redemption 2, Arthur Morgan’s journal may be used as a way to document more serene and meaningful moments in the game via sketches, but GTA 6 could flip this mechanic on its head by having players record moments through social media posts.

Bringing GTA’s Satire to Greater Heights

Instead of sketching an NPC or Blackwater, players in GTA 6 could instead snap pictures or videos of Easter eggs or important locations and post them to an in-game social media app. However, it could be brought even further by bringing NPC interactions into the mix. Comment sections and likes could very well play a part in this mechanic, as each NPC could judge one’s post like in real life. GTA 6 promises plenty of NPCs, and although their place in the story is unclear, they could play a larger role in how protagonists Lucia and Jason’s reputations grow in Vice City.

GTA 6
is confirmed to launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

The story of GTA 6 remains a mystery, but early footage indicates that Lucia and Jason rise from the ranks of petty crime to a more extravagant lifestyle, and it would only make sense for social media to play a role in that ascent to notoriety as well. As the protagonists’ reputations grow, so does their social media followings. Not only would this make sense for GTA 6‘s social satire, but it would also add an extra layer of immersion in Vice City.

Bringing GTA 6’s World to Life

The Red Dead Redemption franchise is known as Rockstar’s more thoughtful, emotional series, while GTA is beloved for its over-the-top crass humor, making the two series fascinating contrasts. Despite the differences, the emphasis on a bold and lively open-world is at the forefront of both franchises, so it’s likely that Red Dead Redemption 2 will influence GTA 6 in a variety of surprising ways.

As fall 2025 creeps closer with each day, the next update from Rockstar will hopefully elaborate further on how social media will play into the story of GTA 6. Such a feature could become overwhelming, while it could also make the world feel more alive if pulled off well. Regardless, GTA 6 is set to be a massive launch in a year already filled with major releases.