Rockstar wants players to grow attached to Jason and Lucia, GTA 6’s protagonists, the same way they did with Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2 — widely considered one of gaming’s most beloved characters. In an interview with French publication TroisCouleurs, Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson explained the thinking behind the game’s dual-protagonist approach.
Jason and Lucia side by side, in an official GTA 6 screenshot. Image: Rockstar Games.
“That Emotional Connection”
“We wanted to take the depth that we were able to add into the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 and the ability to interact with the world in a much more significant way, but then also this sort of emotional connection that people end up having with Arthur,” Nelson said.
According to him, the decision to go with two protagonists — instead of GTA 5’s trio — was deliberate, meant to give more weight to Jason and Lucia’s actions. One example cited in the interview: a previously shown scene of the pair getting ready together to go out, with a level of intimacy GTA 5’s protagonists never had (in practice, they barely tolerated each other).
- 2 protagonists, not 3
Rockstar deliberately cut down the number of playable protagonists compared to GTA 5, to give more depth to Jason and Lucia’s relationship.
Quiet Moments That Hit Harder
Nelson also discussed a specific moment where Lucia is thrown down a flight of stairs and the game cuts to Jason’s point of view, unable to hear her: “it’s the feeling of concern.” He said these quieter moments were “some of the most compelling aspects of Red Dead Redemption 2,” and the team wanted to bring that same kind of emotional build-up to GTA 6.
Official Grand Theft Auto VI key art. Credit: Rockstar Games.
Source: GamesRadar+
