GTA 6 exec reveals new non-lethal combat option

Playing GTA as a pacifist has always been a niche party trick. In GTA 6, Rockstar North says it's building the option in on purpose.

Speaking to Japan's Famitsu magazine, Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson unveiled suppressive fire, a combat option that lets players deliberately shoot near a target rather than at them.

"Instead of shooting directly at your target, you can intentionally miss and shoot at a nearby target to intimidate or confuse them, buying you time to escape," he said. It's a first for the series, and one clearly aimed at players who'd rather flee a firefight than win one.

In his discussion, Nelson cited robbery as the best case study of the new philosophy. Robbers can enter a shop without setting off any alarm and simply escape before anyone even realises that a crime has been committed.

The philosophy is illustrated in the GTA 6 Extended Look trailer, in which the characters Jason and Lucia get trapped in a situation by cops. 

According to Nelson, such situations may not necessarily compel players to take action. "It's not always easy, but there are many situations where you can get through without killing anyone," he said.

The suppressive fire reveal builds on earlier leaks confirming non-lethal tasers, and IGN reports players will also be able to shoot hostile NPCs in the limbs to incapacitate rather than kill or knock a weapon clean out of an enemy's hands.

Combined, the options give players far more granular control over how violent, or restrained, their playthrough becomes.