Ex-Rockstar animator explains how Lucia’s hip sway in GTA VI was likely implemented

Rockstar’s legendary commitment to meticulous detail continues to captivate the gaming community.

Mike York, a former Rockstar Games animator who contributed to the development of GTA V, recently sat down with TGG for an insightful discussion. During the interview, he was asked about the “jiggle” physics showcased in the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer—a technical detail that has sparked significant conversation among fans.

York explained that motion physics can be executed through several methodologies. For example, animators can configure the game engine to dynamically recognize the mass and velocity of specific body segments.

However, York suggests that for Lucia’s character model in GTA VI, the realistic movement was “most likely” achieved by embedding a high density of “bones” within the character’s glutes—a sophisticated application of skeletal animation.

These additional bones function in tandem with the rest of Lucia’s skeletal rig. This setup allows animators to precisely calibrate the degree to which that specific area reacts to physical forces and character momentum, resulting in the lifelike movement seen in the footage.

Source: iXBT.games