Rockstar Confirms Equal Parts Gameplay and Cutscenes in 'GTA 6' Trailer

The anticipation surrounding the second trailer for 'GTA 6' has intensified, especially given the striking visual quality showcased in the footage. Many viewers have expressed skepticism about the realism of the graphics, leading to questions about whether the visuals are genuinely representative of the game. In response, Rockstar has clarified that the trailer features an equal mix of gameplay and cinematic cutscenes, all captured on a PlayStation 5.

The graphics in the latest trailer display unprecedented detail for a game on the current console generation, showcasing advanced ray tracing capabilities for reflections and lighting effects. This level of detail has led some to speculate whether certain scenes are pre-rendered; however, Rockstar insists that what viewers are seeing is authentic.

Traditionally, Rockstar titles like 'Red Dead Redemption 2' and 'GTA 5' utilize real-time rendering for cutscenes, allowing for a seamless transition between gameplay and narrative segments. This method ensures that the characters' visuals remain consistent with their in-game appearances. If the cutscenes were pre-rendered, they would require significant storage space, making real-time rendering a practical choice for the studio.

Rockstar also has the advantage of controlling the camera perspective during cutscenes, which enables them to enhance graphical fidelity by implementing additional effects or increasing the resolution--elements that can be managed since only the visible portions need to be rendered. This efficient use of resources allows for a more polished presentation without sacrificing performance.

While the trailer clearly includes cutscenes, there are doubts surrounding Rockstar's claim that half of the footage consists of actual gameplay. The sections labeled as gameplay do not appear to feature traditional gameplay mechanics or user interfaces. Instead, they seem to have been specially designed for the trailer, creating an illusion that they are gameplay sequences.

Furthermore, the graphical capabilities observed in the trailer are particularly impressive considering they are demonstrated on a console, rather than on a more powerful PC setup. Rockstar has, however, not explicitly confirmed whether the gameplay was captured using the standard PS5 model or the more robust PlayStation 5 Pro. Given the marketing implications, using the platform that offers the best graphical performance would be advantageous for the game's promotion.

According to performance analysis by experts, the trailer runs at 30 frames per second and has a resolution of 2560×1152 pixels, which is effectively 1440p with letterboxing. This resolution is then upscaled to appear closer to 4K. The trailer has generated significant buzz, amassing 475 million views across various platforms within just one day of its release, as confirmed by Rockstar Games.