If you have watched all the trailers and images of GTA VI released by Rockstar several times and find that the same argument pops up in your mind, that: “It looks nice, but it’s basically GTA 5 with better graphics.”
Well, that is just because you are watching the footage casually instead of actually observing how the game world behaves.
Yes, initially I was also among those who thought the same way, but after carefully watching each detail, I find that GTA 6 doesn’t just improve visuals, it quietly fixes many of the things that always felt off in GTA 5.
Well, see, I’m not here to create hype for GTA VI, but to do a detailed comparison between GTA V vs GTA VI that usually hides in plain sight. So, let’s break it down.
GTA V vs GTA VI: The Ground Finally Feels Like Ground (Not a Flat Texture)
One of the first things that stands out in GTA 6 is the beach and terrain detail. Yes, in GTA 5, beaches looked good from a particular distance, but once the distance between you and the beaches was reduced, the illusion broke.
The sand was mostly flat, repetitive, and lifeless. Whether you were running, driving, or crashing into it, the surface never really felt physical. But now with GTA VI, you will feel that the sand looks uneven and naturally shaped.
If you watch the trailer carefully, you can clearly see texture variation, depth, and small elevation changes. Beaches no longer feel like a single stretched texture; they feel like land that’s been shaped over time.
But why does this matter? Well, it is because the terrain is something you interact with regularly. When even the ground feels more real, everything else automatically feels more immersive.
NPCs Are No Longer Just Walking Props
NPC behavior is one of the biggest gameplay upgrades in GTA 6, and it’s something GTA 5 never truly offered. However, in GTA 5, NPCs existed mainly to fill space.
They walked, talked to each other, or panicked when you started any chaos. Once you’d played the game for a few hours, their behavior became predictable. Meanwhile, in GTA 6, NPCs feel aware, and you can see them:
- Taking pictures of events around them
- Pointing phones at real moments, not random poses
- Standing around watching instead of instantly fleeing
- Interacting with the environment instead of ignoring it
One small detail that I must talk about is that NPC phone screens actually display what they’re photographing. Doesn’t it sound futuristic, like in GTA 5, where phone screens showed generic images that had nothing to do with what was happening? It’s a slight change, but once you notice it, GTA 5 suddenly feels unreal by comparison.
Rooftops Finally Matter
If you played GTA V, then just think back to GTA 5 rooftops. How often did anything actually happen there? Most rooftops were empty. You could reach them, but there was rarely a reason to stay.
But in GTA 6, rooftops feel alive, and you will find many reasons to stay there. NPCs are seen hanging out, relaxing, and occupying these spaces naturally.
This adds vertical life to cities, making urban areas feel layered instead of flat and boring. So, when you compare GTA V vs GTA VI, you will find these differences between a city you pass through and a city that feels populated.
Draw Distance Fixes One of GTA 5’s Biggest Problems
If you’ve played GTA 5 long enough, you’ve noticed this: Cars disappearing, headlights vanishing, objects popping in. But in GTA 6, this issue is largely gone.
Vehicles remain visible from very long distances. Traffic continues flowing naturally. Even headlights stay visible far away, which makes night scenes feel believable instead of broken.
In GTA 5, traffic at a distance often turned into a mess, with cars stopping randomly, disappearing, or behaving unnaturally. In GTA 6, Rockstar fixes this, and it makes a massive difference.
Interiors Are Real, Not Fake Decorations
GTA 5 relied heavily on fake interiors. Windows looked detailed, but behind them were flat images designed to trick your eye. GTA 6 drops that approach. Buildings now have real, visible interiors.
Stores are filled with items. Shelves are stocked with products that have actual branding. Interiors don’t feel empty or cartoonish anymore. This design choice aligns perfectly with Rockstar’s broader plan for a denser, more interactive world.
Well, this concept has already been explored in our in-depth GTA 6 overview, which covers the map, gameplay systems, and overall scope.GTA
Ports and Industrial Areas Finally Feel Alive
Here’s one detail that many people miss: cranes unloading cargo ships. In GTA 6, ports look operational. However, ships aren’t just parked there for decoration; they’re part of a working system.
In GTA 5, similar areas often felt frozen in time. Even the workers barely moved, and it felt like they didn’t exist at all. GTA 6 makes infrastructure feel functional, which adds realism without needing flashy animations.
Wildlife is Everywhere, and It Makes a Difference
Animals in GTA 5 existed, but they were rare and often vanished. But, in GTA 6, Rockstar changes this completely. You’ll see deer, cranes, flamingos, ducks, and other wildlife moving naturally through different regions.
Swamps finally feel like swamps, alive, unpredictable, and atmospheric. This makes rural exploration far more engaging than GTA 5.
Water Physics Are on a Completely Different Level
Water interaction is one of the clearest technical upgrades. However, in GTA 6:
- Boats physically displace water
- Waves react dynamically to movement
- Multiple boats create overlapping ripples and splashes
In GTA 5, water was mostly a visual trick. Boats didn’t truly interact with it, which made oceans and rivers feel artificial during gameplay.
But, as per the trailer, we can clearly see that multiple boats are moving in Grand Theft Auto 6, and that’s one of those differences that make comparing GTA V vs GTA VI impossible to ignore.
Burnouts, Smoke, and Vehicle Physics Feel Heavy and Real
Vehicle physics in GTA 6 are noticeably improved. But, in GTA 6:
- Burnouts create a thick haze that lingers in the air
- Smoke doesn’t disappear instantly
- Skid marks stay on the road
- Dust and particles get lifted by wind from passing vehicles
These things also tie directly into the deeper vehicle systems Rockstar is building, which is why GTA VI vehicles are shaping up to be a major topic on their own.
Reflections Actually Work This Time
Side-view mirrors in GTA 6 show clear and correct reflections. In GTA 5, reflections were blurry, low-resolution, or missing entirely, especially on PC, where proper window reflections were often absent.
Dirt and Mud Finally Stick
Environmental wear is taken seriously in Rockstar’s GTA 6. Characters get dirty when they fall or move through mud. Vehicles accumulate grime based on terrain. Even background cars look muddy, which helps scenes blend naturally.
Lighting Brings the World to Life
Lighting in GTA 6 is brighter, more vibrant, and more natural. Materials react properly to light, making everything easier to read and more immersive.
Traffic No Longer Breaks at a Distance
As we have already talked about, the traffic behavior in GTA 6 is more stable. Cars don’t stop randomly. They don’t disappear without reason. The city feels busy even when viewed from far away.
Interiors Are Packed With Small, Believable Details
Shops in GTA 6 feel lived in. Shelves are full. Products have unique labels. Well, interiors don’t feel copy-pasted like in GTA 5; interiors often felt empty.
Characters and Clothing Look Photorealistic
Character faces in GTA 6 feature realistic skin textures, natural expressions, and smooth animations. Clothing materials reflect light properly, making fabrics and accessories feel real. In GTA 5, clothing often looked flat and disconnected from lighting.
So, that’s all we have for you about the GTA V vs GTA VI. We hope that this guide has helped you. For more info, comment below and let us know.
