GTA 6: 10 Things It Must Do BETTER Than 5

1. Establish An Identity For The Future

The biggest issue GTA V presented for the franchise, was essentially backtracking on the "maturation period" GTA IV had otherwise started.

In 2008's release we had far less OTT characters (minus Brucie), a way more nuanced story about immigration, the failure of the American Dream and Niko Bellic's own past coming back to haunt him. Sure, you can argue the tone was a bit too serious in comparison to the aliens n' jetpacks of San Andreas, but next to GTA III, it looked to establish Rockstar as more of a Naughty Dog than what Volition would then do with Saints Row.

And because of this - because GTA V back-pedalled to appease rowdy fans and that older mentality - we've got a GTA that almost feels completely devoid of identity. GTA Online is by very definition a sandbox, the single player a mix of SNL skits, terribly framed "comments" on subjects like torture, and characters you couldn't even enjoy as anti-heroes.

It showed the once punk rock, garage band feel Rockstar used to exude had become mass market and targeted - GTA V is almost Sex Pistols' Jonny Rotten doing butter adverts.

Above all, GTA 6 needs to reestablish the franchise as the bastion of black mirror commentary it always was. Take risks, p*ss people off, don't keep chasing the dollar so nakedly. Essentially, rediscover the reason you wanted to make a game called GRAND THEFT AUTO in the first place, or hire a team of people who already know.

It worked a treat for Sonic Mania.