The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
GTA VI may give players more ways to approach some missions than GTA V did, but that does not mean every mission will be open-ended. Rockstar’s interview descriptions point to a balance: more route flexibility and closer ties between missions and open-world systems, alongside story-led character restrictions and authored sequences. That comparison is an inference from developer interviews, not a hands-on review of the finished game.
What “mission freedom” means in this comparison
Mission freedom is not one feature. It can mean choosing a route to an objective, deciding which protagonist to control, or having a mission’s systems behave like the wider open world. A game can offer flexibility on one of these dimensions while still directing the player closely on another.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
IRIPLEZO Grand Theft Auto V | $24.33 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Take 2 Interactive Grand Theft Auto 5 (PS5) | $24.25 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Grand Theft Auto GTA V 5 | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Grand Theft Auto 5 PS4 - PlayStation 4 ( GTA V Ps4) | $26.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Grand Theft Auto V - Xbox 360 | $34.27 | Buy on Amazon |
- Approach and route: Can you take an alternate route or ignore a suggested path and still complete the objective?
- Character control: Can you choose between Jason and Lucia, or does a mission lock or switch the character?
- Mission and open-world continuity: Do activities such as robberies and wanted-level chases feel consistent with free roaming?
The interviews describe examples and design goals, not a count of how many missions support alternatives or how much the main story can branch.
How GTA V framed missions and free roaming
In a 2013 interview with The Guardian, Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser described GTA V as combining structured missions with less-directed tasks that still have a goal, alongside open-world exploration. He summed up the distinction this way: “In a game, when you’re doing missions you’re doing a job, and in the open world you do what you want.” The Guardian’s interview with Dan Houser presents those modes as complementary, rather than implying that every mission is equally linear or that GTA V offers no choices.
#1 Best Overall
- STUNNING VISUALS — Enhanced levels of fidelity and performance with new graphics modes featuring up to 4K resolution, up to 60 frames per second, HDR options, ray tracing, improved texture quality, and more
- FASTER LOADING — Quicker access to the action as the world of Los Santos and Blaine County load in faster than ever before.
- ADAPTIVE TRIGGERS AND HAPTIC FEEDBACK — Feel every moment through the DualSense controller, from directional damage to weather effects, rough road surfaces to explosions, and more.
- TEMPEST 3D AUDIO — Hear the sounds of the world with pinpoint precision: the throttle of a stolen supercar, the rattle of neighbouring gunfire, the roar of a helicopter overhead, and more.
- Please note that although this game is Region Free or Region Unlocked and will work on all systems, this is the European version and may differ from the local version in age rating, labeling or instructions.
What Rockstar’s GTA VI comments suggest
Rob Nelson, Rockstar North co-studio head, described freedom and storytelling as a design balance. In an interview transcript republished by ThePawn02 and attributed to IGN, he said: “We are always trying to find that balance between freedom and storytelling, as you say.” Nelson described efforts to open up missions where possible without sacrificing the quality of the experience.
Some missions may allow more than one route
Nelson’s examples include multiple ways out of a tower block and a police chase where a player can disregard the suggested optimal route and still escape. These examples suggest that some objectives may accommodate different approaches instead of requiring one prescribed path. They do not establish that every mission has multiple solutions.
Rank #2
- Easy to use
- Excellent quality products
- Good product for use
Open-world systems may carry into mission play
Nelson also described trying to make activities such as wanted-level chases and robberies feel consistent with open-world play. The aim is to make mission activity and free roaming feel less like separate modes. He also noted the trade-off: too much freedom can make it harder to maintain mission quality. These are stated design goals, not a guarantee that player decisions will change the larger story. Read the interview transcript republished by ThePawn02.
Recommended Free Tools
Jason and Lucia switching will depend on the scene
A translated Famitsu interview with Nelson describes three arrangements: some missions allow free switching, some restrict control to a character’s perspective for story reasons, and some switch the player automatically. That means GTA VI’s two protagonists should not be read as a promise that players can swap characters whenever they want.
Rank #3
- ATEMBERAUBENDE GRAFIK: Visuelle Verbesserungen und eine hhere Leistung mit neuen Grafikmodi, die eine Auflsung bis zu 4K, bis zu 60 Bilder pro Sekunde, HDR-Optionen, Ray-Tracing, verbesserte Texturqualitt und mehr bieten
- SCHNELLERE LADEZEITEN: Rascherer Zugang zur Action, da die Welt von Los Santos und Blaine County schneller geladen wird als jemals zuvor
- 3D-RAUMKLANG: Geniee die Klangkulisse der Welt mit hchster Przision: den Motor eines gestohlenen Supersportwagens, das knatternde Gewehrfeuer um die Ecke, das Drhnen eines Helikopters ber dir und mehr
- NEUES MEN-DESIGN: Erlebe ein komplett berarbeitetes Men-Design fr verbesserte Navigation und Benutzerfreundlichkeit auf Xbox Series X|S
- ZUGANG ZU ALLEN AKTUELLEN UND FRHEREN UPDATES: Profitiere von allen Gameplay-Verbesserungen, Erweiterungen und Inhalten, die seit Verffentlichung von GTA Online hinzugefgt wurden
Examples of authored character control
Nelson cited an early high-rise mission in which Jason is selected because of his former special-forces background and the circumstances. He also described a bank-escape sequence that shifts from Jason firing from the car to Lucia driving while Jason and Raul shoot. In contrast, a convenience-store robbery can be done alone or with Lucia. The examples illustrate different degrees of player choice within the same overall design, rather than a single switching rule. GTAVice.net has a translated version of the Famitsu interview. GamesRadar+ also reports the distinction between restricted, available, and automatic switching.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the comparison can—and cannot—tell you
| Question | What the interviews establish | What remains unknown |
|---|---|---|
| Can missions have alternate routes? | Nelson described multiple routes out of a tower block and a chase where players can ignore the suggested route. | How many missions offer alternatives, and how broad those alternatives are. |
| Can players choose Jason or Lucia? | Some missions allow switching; others restrict or automatically change the controlled character. | The exact rules for every mission and how often each arrangement occurs. |
| Will mission choices change the story? | Nelson described route flexibility and efforts to connect mission systems with open-world activity. | Whether, and how often, choices produce branching story outcomes. |
| Is GTA VI more enjoyable or less linear overall? | The comments reveal a design intention to balance freedom with storytelling. | How the finished game feels in practice; the interview descriptions are not hands-on testing or player-reception evidence. |
For GTA V, Houser’s description supports a design contrast between structured jobs and open-world freedom. For GTA VI, Nelson’s examples suggest a stronger effort to let players vary some routes and carry open-world systems into mission play, while preserving authored scenes and character locks. It is reasonable to expect flexibility in particular situations, but not to conclude from these comments alone that GTA VI is broadly more open-ended.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The biggest, most Dynamic and most diverse open world ever created and now packed with layers of new detail
- Grand Theft Auto V blends storytelling and gameplay in new ways as players repeatedly jump in and out of the lives of the game's three lead characters, playing all sides of the game's interwoven story
- Grand Theft Auto V also comes with Grand Theft Auto Online, the Dynamic and ever evolving Grand Theft Auto universe for multiple players
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
