GTA 6 Should Take Inspiration From Last of Us 2 For Melee Combat, Says Ex-Rockstar Dev

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Rockstar Should Borrow From Naughty Dog's Best Gameplay Elements!

Story Highlight
  • A former Rockstar developer believes GTA 6 needs to bring major improvements to combat gameplay.
  • He points to Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part 2 as an example of solid melee gameplay.
  • The developer believes Rockstar can perfect such a system.

Rockstar has shown plenty of in-game GTA 6 footage already, but the developer has yet to share uncut gameplay. Between small snippets of gameplay in the last two trailers and past leaks, fans have a general idea of how the game will play, but one question remains unanswered.

Many are wondering how GTA 6 will handle its melee combat, and a former Rockstar developer believes the team should take a page out of Naughty Dog’s book to improve on the combat.

Why it matters: Despite its many strengths, the Grand Theft Auto franchise has always been weak in terms of hand-to-hand combat.

Mike York previously worked as an animator on titles like GTA 5 and God of War Ragnarok.

Recently, he discussed the combat system in GTA 6 and reflected on elements that could be improved from Red Dead Redemption 2. He noted that Rockstar made various strides in terms of combat with Red Dead Redemption 2, but the game’s melee gameplay still felt a bit too slow and realistic.

Mike York then pointed to The Last of Us Part 2’s gameplay, discussing how the combat animations momentarily speed up for a heightened sense of pace and impact. He believes something similar could work well for GTA 6, given the game’s satirical and arcady nature compared to Rockstar’s last AAA offering.

Furthermore, Mike York noted in the comments that a team like Rockstar would be able to polish Naughty Dog’s core gameplay style further. 

I’m really hoping we get a combat system similar to that (The Last of Us Part 2).

-Mike York

The Last Of Us Part 2 Remastered
The Last Of Us Part 2 Did A lot of Things Right In The Gameplay Department

Because Naughty Dog’s gameplay has always been a strong part of its offerings, the developer’s statement is not too shocking. Compared to The Last of Us Part 2, GTA 5’s combat felt floaty and lacking in impact, but Rockstar is expected to make several changes for the next title.

GTA 6 seems to be bringing back gym mechanics and fighting styles from GTA San Andreas, setting the stage for more complex hand-to-hand fights.

What do you think about the developer’s thoughts? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

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