GTA 6 takes Red Dead Redemption 2's honor system to next level, it's not black and white

Following last night's GTA VI ‘Extended Look’ on Netflix, we've learned more about Rockstar's new Criminal Profile system, and it appears to take the foundations of Red Dead Redemption 2's Honor system to the next level.

The Honor system first debuted in 2010's Red Dead Redemption, giving players a way to shape John Marston's reputation through their actions. While revolutionary at the time, Rockstar Games significantly expanded the concept in Red Dead Redemption 2, making Honor about far more than simply deciding who to kill and who to spare.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, NPCs became more reactive to Arthur Morgan's behaviour and even his presence. The way Arthur is perceived could change depending on how he treated other characters, whether he helped strangers and how he responded to situations around him. Even seemingly insignificant actions, such as throwing a fish back into the water, could improve Arthur's Honor.

Now, GTA VI appears to be taking that same philosophy and applying it to Jason and Lucia's lives of crime, with the new Criminal Profile system seemingly designed to track not only what you do, but how and why you do it.

How has the Honor System improved in GTA VI?

In GTA VI, your behaviour can influence how you're perceived in the world. Something as simple as petting a dog can work in your favour, while unnecessary violence, vandalism and other reckless behaviour can count against you. In other words, the game appears to recognise that not every criminal is created equal, and NPCs can react accordingly.

However, it's the new Criminal Profile system where things get particularly interesting. Rather than simply judging whether you're a “good” or “bad” person, it takes into account how you behave as a criminal. Are you reckless and impulsive, or do you carefully plan your crimes and keep unnecessary violence to a minimum?

Crucially, your Criminal Profile is separate from your Wanted level. GTA VI will also introduce a six-star Wanted system, with police behaviour becoming considerably more sophisticated. If officers identify your vehicle, for example, they won't simply patrol the area where you disappeared. They can actively search for the car, meaning you'll need to think more carefully about where you leave it after committing a crime.

There will be ways to shake the police more effectively, too. Changing vehicles when entering locations such as car parks, swapping clothes and blending into large crowds can help you reduce your Wanted level and avoid detection.

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Your behaviour as a criminal could also have longer-term consequences. If you consistently operate like a professional, planning your crimes, keeping your face covered, avoiding unnecessary civilian deaths and getting in and out without causing chaos, you could attract more lucrative jobs.

By contrast, charging into a convenience store with guns blazing and killing civilians probably isn't going to do much for your reputation. GTA VI appears to reward players who treat crime as a profession rather than simply causing as much destruction as possible.

Most importantly, these consequences won't necessarily be limited to major story missions or scripted side activities. The way you behave throughout Leonida could shape how the world responds to Jason and Lucia, making everyday criminal activity feel like a much more dynamic part of GTA VI.

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"If you hit and run, commit a crime and run, get into trouble and move on before the cops get there, and you don't start shooting people, don't start escalating - which you absolutely can do if you want to - but if you don't, you're generally going to be fine," Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson told IGN.

"It's when you go beyond what is necessary on a consistent basis, or you do completely unnecessary stuff consistently, that you may start to sway your criminal profile in a certain direction.”

The Criminal Profile meter won't be constantly on your screen, perhaps more so during that particular event when a crime is being committed. The vast majority of your Criminal Profile data will be found in a dedicated menu section.

A friendship meter of sorts has also returned, but rather than being a focus on best buddies, it will react to the relationship with Jason and Lucia. If you’re nice to each other and do events regularly as a couple, they will have more affection for each other, and that will be reflected in the game.

If you’re not nice and you do not do many fun activities together, Jason and Lucia might not be quite the cosy couple they hope to be. It’s unclear at this point whether they’ll be another friendship meter for NPCs, but considering that both GTA IV and GTA V had one, it’s always a strong possibility in GTA VI.

It all sounds very exciting, and we can’t wait to see how it all works in the full game. Grand Theft Auto VI will be released on November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.