GTA 6 Shows Significant Visual Leap Over Red Dead Redemption 2

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Bawal Zehri

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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As fans saw their first glimpse of GTA 6 on 5 December, they quickly noticed its visual upgrades over past Rockstar Games releases.

Unsurprisingly, this game shows twenty years of technical leaps compared to the original Vice City, but it does not disappoint in more recent comparisons either. Comparing the trailer to Red Dead Redemption 2 shows a clearer picture.

Side-by-side, GTA 6 seems to be quite an improvement over Red Dead Redemption 2.

Why it matters: Since GTA 6 is Rockstar Games’ first current-gen-only release, expectations are higher than usual.

This comparison has been put together by cycu1, who tried to match sequences of the GTA 6 trailer with parts of Red Dead Redemption 2. While an exact comparison is not easy to make, this video shows rough differences between the two games.

Starting with the oceans, both games feature beautiful water. However, GTA 6 has a much more detailed and realistic look to its ocean, likely due to ray-traced global illumination, as pointed out by an analysis from Digital Foundry.

This technique means GTA 6 is superior in terms of lighting. While Red Dead Redemption 2 already looked incredible, Rockstar Games’ upcoming open world will exhibit a more lifelike look.

Graphical elements like volumetric clouds introduced in Red Dead Redemption 2 will also return. Therefore, the next Grand Theft Auto is shaping up to be a complete visual treat, with many speculating that the game may run at 30 FPS on consoles.

Furthermore, GTA 6 pulls ahead in sheer density. Everything from the trailer shows a more lively atmosphere, adding to the immersion of Vice City.

Since Rockstar Games is known to polish its titles to perfection, GTA 6 is expected to look even better by 2025. A former developer has claimed that everything shown in the trailer ran in real time, making it an impressive showcase.

On the subject of Red Dead Redemption, a third entry for this title is also expected at some point, with actor Roger Clark believing that a new game is inevitable. Therefore, we hope to see similar advancements in Red Dead Redemption 3. However, for now, GTA 6 is shaping up to be the best-looking open-world game to date.

Bawal Zehri

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

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