GTA 6 will reportedly feature a Criminal Profile system that can permanently change depending on how players behave throughout their playthrough. The system was discussed during a gameplay preview at Rockstar North in Edinburgh, where YouTuber TGG was shown about 27 minutes of footage before watching around two and a half hours of additional free-roam gameplay.
According to the creator, Rockstar North co-head of development Rob Nelson explained that the system is Rockstar’s alternative to the honour system featured in Red Dead Redemption 2. However, GTA 6 does not frame Criminal Profile as a simple measurement of whether players are good or bad.
GTA 6 Criminal Profile Tracks Your Approach To Crime
Nelson reportedly explained that having a low Criminal Profile does not necessarily mean a player is being bad. Instead, the system reflects different approaches to being a criminal and allows players to experience the game however they choose.
Excessively violent behaviour can reportedly cause the Criminal Profile to fall. Examples mentioned during the preview include excessive killing, killing animals and attacking bodies that are already dead.
At the same time, the system can reward players for being effective criminals. A player who successfully robs a store without killing anyone, for example, can reportedly improve their Criminal Profile despite committing a crime.
This approach encourages players to think more carefully about how they commit crimes. Rather than simply taking a vehicle from someone, players could look for an unattended parked vehicle and break into it, reducing the likelihood of attracting police attention.
The creator said this approach makes players feel more like criminals because they have to consider the consequences of their actions.
Criminal Profile Is Hidden From The Main HUD
GTA 6 reportedly will not constantly display a Criminal Profile bar during gameplay. Instead, players can access the information through a menu.
The creator saw a dedicated section for Jason and Lucia that displayed the Criminal Profile status of both characters, alongside their relationship status. This means players will not necessarily see their profile changing as they play.
The system can also apparently reach a permanent state. Nelson reportedly told the creator that the Criminal Profile logo can crack or shatter if the player’s profile falls far enough.
Once that happens, the Criminal Profile becomes permanently locked for that particular playthrough and cannot be restored.
GTA 6 Encourages More Deliberate Criminal Behaviour
The permanent nature of the system is not necessarily intended as a punishment. Reaching this state can instead represent how a player has chosen to experience GTA 6.
The creator’s broader takeaway from the preview was that GTA 6 requires more decision-making than GTA 5, with players frequently having to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of their actions.
The police system reportedly follows a similar philosophy. Officers will no longer simply appear on the mini map, requiring players to pay closer attention when trying to escape. Police can also recognise the vehicle a player entered, along with their appearance, clothing and weapon.
Police can reportedly identify whether Jason and Lucia are together as well, potentially forcing players to change vehicles or clothing, or separate the two characters when attempting to avoid detection.
The Criminal Profile system appears to complement these mechanics by making players consider not only whether they commit crimes, but how they commit them.
