By Sagar V. Mankar As GTA VI rumors swirl, some nostalgic fans are hoping for the return of controversial locked map regions that unlock as you progress.
With the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI now just over a year away, speculation is running rampant about what new features and gameplay mechanics players can expect from Rockstar’s next open-world epic.
Though details remain scarce, some eagle-eyed fans believe a controversial feature from previous GTA titles could make a comeback in GTA VI – locked map regions that prevent access to certain areas until reaching key story milestones.
In GTA III and GTA IV, sizable chunks of the map were locked off at the start, only opening up as players progressed through the main storyline missions.
While GTA V adopted a more open approach, instead utilizing fog-of-war to obscure unvisited districts, some hardcore fans have expressed a desire to see locked regions return in GTA VI.
As one Redditor put it:
“I know this might sound counterintuitive, but personally I would love for this to return. My fondest memories in Vice City and San Andreas were completing the storyline so I could unlock new islands and find new vehicles. Despite the apparent restriction, once unlocked, the larger maps offered a sense of freedom and game progression like no other.”
Many fans are adamant about bringing back locked map regions in GTA VI, recapturing the magic of past games’ exploration and accomplishment.
As one Redditor states:
“I want GTA VI to reintroduce locked map parts, unlocking them as you progress. I liked not knowing when areas would unlock. When they did, it felt like an achievement, and you got to explore new zones for the first time.”
Another agreed:
“I liked the feeling of not knowing when you’re going to unlock the other parts, and when you did unlock them, it felt like such an accomplishment and you got to explore a different part of the map you’ve never been in before which was fun.”
From a narrative perspective, locked map regions could also make logical sense in GTA VI.
Official artwork depicts new protagonist Lucia wearing an ankle monitor, suggesting she may be on parole and unable to travel far from home initially.
Unlocking new turf as she progresses in the criminal underworld could prove a satisfying gameplay loop.
“This feature would make sense story-wise as Lucia wears an ankle bracelet, stopping newly released convicts from straying far from home. So Lucia might be unable to travel to some areas at first.”
Of course, not all fans are enthused about the prospect of returning to restricted travel.
Some see it as an outdated mechanic that goes against GTA’s core ethos of open-world freedom and emergent gameplay. Others simply found it frustrating and limiting.
Ultimately, whether or not Rockstar decides to bring back locked map regions will come down to their vision for GTA VI’s gameplay and storyline.
Given the developers’ focus on crafting ever more immersive worlds, a more organic, fluid restriction to movement seems plausible.
Or perhaps they’ll surprise us with something entirely new.