Digital Foundry’s Analysis of the New GTA 6 Screenshots

Following the launch of GTA 6 pre-orders, Rockstar Games unveiled 63 fresh screenshots. While these images primarily highlight the perks of the premium editions and pre-order bonuses, they also offer a treasure trove of technical data. The analysts over at Digital Foundry have since dissected these visuals, uncovering several compelling insights.

The most immediate observation is the widespread implementation of ray-traced reflections. These effects are pervasive throughout the new gallery—evident on the polished surface of Jason’s revolver and in the puddles beneath vehicles, where even the intricate details of the car’s undercarriage are rendered with impressive clarity. It is evident that advanced lighting is a cornerstone of the Grand Theft Auto VI development cycle, and Rockstar is eager to flaunt these technical leaps, which represent a significant evolution from the visuals seen in the latest iterations of GTA 5.

However, experts remain skeptical about whether these visuals represent the standard console experience. There is significant doubt regarding whether the current hardware—the PS5, Xbox Series X, or even the PS5 Pro—can sustain this level of graphical fidelity during active gameplay. It is widely suspected that these frames were captured via a dedicated photo mode or rendered directly within the RAGE engine environment. Such methods typically unlock rendering tools that far exceed what is available during standard, high-action sequences.

This ambiguity is noteworthy, especially considering that Rockstar explicitly confirmed that the second official trailer was captured entirely on PlayStation 5 hardware. The conspicuous absence of similar clarification for these latest images leaves the door open for debate regarding the game’s final performance targets.

Source: gta.com.ua