2018's Red Dead Redemption 2 set a new standard for open-world game design. Its dedication to realism and incredible acting made players feel like they were really living in the last days of the old west. It is not perfect, but the things it does right outweighs most of its flaws.

Related: 10 Of The Darkest Things You Can Do In Red Dead Redemption 2

While it has not been confirmed, it stands to reason that Rockstar Games' next project will likely be Grand Theft Auto 6. We have no idea when it will come out or where it will take place, but we do have a few ideas on what it should borrow from Red Dead Redemption 2, and what it should leave behind.

10 Hope It Borrows: Interaction With NPCs

Red dead redemption 2 talking to stranger
Red dead redemption 2 talking to stranger

Interacting with NPCs and saying either negative or positive things to them helps make the world feel more alive in Red Dead Redemption 2. While doing this in a modern urban setting to the same extent is probably not possible, we would like to see a similar mechanic in GTA 6. Maybe certain shops would have NPCs with whom you can talk or certain neighborhoods have unique characters who are not integral to the plot, but help make the area more unique.

9 Hope It Doesn't Borrow: Tone

Arthur Morgan in RDR2

Red Dead Redemption and its prequel are two of the most tragic tales told in Triple-A gaming. Grand Theft Auto is no stranger to sad stories - Grand Theft Auto 4 is particularly tragic - but GTA 5's cartoonish attitude and dark humor is the perfect fit for an ultra violent open-world game. The dark tone works well for a western about revenge and redemption, but a lighter tone always works better for GTA. Even though GTA 4 is incredible, the sixth game should remain for joyful.

8 Hope It Borrows: Graphics

Red Dead Redemption 2 Arthur Rabbit Hunting

Red Dead Redemption 2's visuals are so gorgeous, it is hard to believe it runs on the same engine as GTA 5. Since the sixth game in GTA will likely release on PS5 and Xbox Series X, there is no reason why it should not look even better than the 2018 western. Before GTA 6 even comes out, we still have to wonder how much better GTA 5 will look when its new version comes out. Will it look on par with Red Dead Redemption 2, or will the upgrade be more subtle?

7 Hope It Doesn't Borrow: Shooting Mechanics

Red Dead Redemption 2 Horse Shooting Field

One of the main complaints lobbied at Red Dead Redemption 2 is how little it actually advances the gameplay. For all its advancements in world design and interactivity, the core gameplay remains identical to the first Red Dead Redemption.

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Aiming, especially on consoles, never feels exceptionally smooth or up to the standards of other great shooters. It is time for Rockstar Games to step up in this department. Max Payne 3 is one of the tightest third-person shooters around even eight years after release, so we know they can do it.

6 Hope It Borrows: Length

red dead redemption 2 dutch van der linde 1

The 2018 open-world game cannot be described as anything other than epic. With six chapters and an epilogue, the amount of content shoved into the story could fill up a television show worth several seasons. GTA 5 is big, but the story and characters do not evolve in the same way as Red Dead Redemption 2. GTA 6 should feel similarly large, like players and the characters are going through a truly gigantic journey.

5 Hope It Doesn't Borrow: Movement

Similar to the shooting mechanics, movement has not evolved a lot since even GTA 4. It is serviceable, but too often players feel inhibited by how slow Arthur Morgan moves while venturing through the old west. Open-world games are all about freedom, and movement feeling too heavy is one of the series' weaknesses. GTA 6 will hopefully remedy this, getting rid of one of the only problems plaguing the series.

4 Hope It Borrows: Variety Within The Map

Red Dead Redemption 2 prologue snow fight

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a big map, but it also features a larger variety of locations than prior Rockstar Games. The world ranges from snowy mountains to small cities brimming with traffic. GTA 6 could take the ball and run with this, taking a map as large or bigger than GTA 5 but with a similar variety of locations as Red Dead Redemption 2. Imagine a Liberty City with the temperate forests of Upstate New York or a Vice City with the everglades.

3 Hope It Doesn't Borrow: Bloated Epilogue

red dead redemption 2 john marston 1

The idea of an epilogue is not bad, but Red Dead Redemption 2's final stretch goes on for way too long. Once an epilogue starts, players expect a calm and curt winding down no longer than an hour.

Related: 10 Important Details Red Dead Redemption 2's Epilogue Adds To The Story

Red Dead Redemption 2's epilogue is the length of a small game. GTA 6 can have an epilogue if the developer desires, but it should not be six or ten hours long.

2 Hope It Borrows: Commissioning Musicians To Write New Songs

Red Dead Redemption 2 Arthur Sniper Rifle Mountains

Red Dead Redemption 2 has one of the most memorable soundtracks in gaming. D'Angelo contributed a song to the soundtrack, and several other songs accompany famous moments, such as a housebuilding montage. GTA 5 was the first game in the series to feature an original score, so it was already a step in the right direction. We want a similarly dramatic moment of whatever hero walking to a new, catchy song while confronting their fate.

1 Hope It Doesn't Borrow: Dedication To Realism

The heavy tone and dedication to realism works in Red Dead Redemption 2, but it would not be something every fan wants in a GTA title. Players appreciate the ability to rampage through the city with little repercussions. The stamina bars and hunger of Red Dead Redemption 2 would not work as well in GTA, and would feel more like hinderances to fun rather than ways to further engross the player into the world.

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