No doubt, Red Dead Redemption 2 ranks as one of the top games ever made. From its gripping story that keeps you hooked to the intense shootouts, this Rockstar title covers everything. With Grand Theft Auto 6 set for 2026 and RDR 2 hitting seven years old, now's a good time to reflect. Here are seven features GTA 6 could pull from RDR 2 to make the delay pay off.

1. Realism Through Visual Progression

In RDR 2, the way hair grows over time brings a real touch to the visuals, something you don't see much in open-world games. Unlike GTA 5 where a haircut changes your look right away, here it grows slowly, and you can use tonics to speed it up, making the game feel more immersive.

Bringing this to GTA 6 would make customizing characters feel more real, particularly with the trailers showing different hair lengths for protagonists Jason and Lucia. This small thing could help players feel more attached to the characters and the world.

2. Enhanced Social Mechanics for Interaction Depth

Being able to say hi or pick a fight with NPCs in RDR 2 leads to lively and funny chats. This would work great in GTA 6's city life, say at beaches or clubs, where NPCs act in more varied ways than in the old West.

It could spark sudden brawls or buddies, boosting how much players get into it and creating natural surprises instead of planned ones.

3. Relationship Dynamics Over Honor Systems

RDR 2's honor system kept tabs on your good or bad deeds, but GTA 6 might do better with a relationship meter that shows how the main characters get along, like Jason and Lucia. This could affect the plot and how you play, with fallout from stuff like cheating or flirting.

Plus, decisions that carry weight would make you pause before acting. This adds realness and emotional pull. Using something like RDR 2's honor setup fits a modern story where relationships drive the choices and tale.

4. Hunting as a Meaningful Side Activity

Hunting in RDR 2 went beyond a simple diversion: it involved tracking, gathering materials, crafting, and trading. GTA 6 trailers show NPCs hunting, hinting at something similar that fits its wild spots like swamps and countryside. You could hunt crocs for money or birds for a bite to eat.

This would mix up the action, offer other ways to earn cash, and make the environment feel active outside of main quests and fights. Most of all, it expands the options in GTA 6 beyond just advancing the plot.

5. Innovative Transportation Choices Beyond Fast Travel

Putting horses in a current-day open world might sound off, but it could bring some laughs and fresh twists. Trotting through places like Vice City on horseback would get funny reactions from NPCs and in-game social posts. It shows Rockstar's knack for mixing real elements with comedy, and it could tip the hat to long-time players.

This quirky touch highlights their push for unexpected play styles. With lots of GTA 6 vehicles already revealed, adding transport straight from RDR 2 would be neat. Picture Lucia riding a horse to rescue Jason. Pure gold!

6. Weapon Management and Dual Wielding

When it comes to action-packed crime tales, GTA 6 should step up the realism. RDR 2's setup limited what weapons you could carry, forcing choices and stashing extras on your horse, which made you plan ahead.

GTA 5 let you haul around a huge load of gear without issue, which broke the immersion. From leaks, GTA 6 seems headed toward storing weapons in cars. This pushes smart setup for jobs, ramps up the stress in battles, and boosts realism. And if dual-wielding from RDR 2 makes it in, players will probably go for that first to channel their inner action hero.

7. Dynamic Weather and Environmental Effects

RDR 2's weather got high marks for looking great and feeling real. It's a top way to make an open-world RPG environment shift and change, with lively clouds, rain, snow, and storms, rather than just basic switches.

GTA 6's sunny locale lets Rockstar expand on this, adding tempests, lightning, and thick clouds for stunning sights and deep immersion. This detail would shine in air travel, turning flights into spectacles and layering mood into the setting. Maybe even weather changes bring more animals into town.

Which of these do you hope shows up in Rockstar's next release? Or got ideas of your own? Drop them in the comments.