Grand Theft Auto VI remains one of the most anticipated video games of the decade — not just because it’s the next entry in Rockstar Games’ record-shattering franchise, but because every new reveal, leak, and developer hint fuels immense speculation about how the game will evolve the series’ signature mechanics. Among the latest points of interest is GTA 6’s weapon wheel — a core gameplay element that ties together combat, exploration, and player expression.

From what has been teased so far, the upcoming weapon wheel appears to be more modular and intuitive than ever, redesigned not just as a menu but as a seamless extension of the player’s in-world decisions. Coupled with enhanced HUD feedback and new combat systems like dual-wielding, these changes hint at how GTA 6 Money might push its gameplay closer toward cinematic fluidity while retaining the chaotic freedom the franchise is known for.

Reimagining the Weapon Wheel: Structure and Purpose

The weapon wheel in GTA games has long been a familiar tool: a radial menu that lets players quickly choose firearms, melee weapons, throwable items, and tools. In GTA V, this wheel was functional but relatively straightforward — split primarily between weapon categories with icons radiating from the center.

In GTA VI, however, leaked recreations and early design glimpses suggest that the wheel will be divided into three distinct sections:

Weapons

Equipment

Gear

This division is significant for several reasons.

1. Combat as a Priority

By placing weapons in their own dedicated section, the game reinforces combat as a core pillar of the GTA VI experience. This likely includes:

Firearms ranging from handguns to assault rifles

Explosives and throwables

Melee weapons

Specialized weapon variants

What’s notable here isn’t just classification — it’s how players are encouraged to engage with their tools. An organized weapon section reduces friction during high-stress moments, letting players switch quickly in gunfights where fractions of a second matter.

2. Equipment as Utility

The inclusion of equipment as a separate category points toward a more tactical use of items beyond just shooting:

Healing items or health boosts

Armor or defensive tools

Deployables like flashbangs or drones

Possibly mission-specific gadgets

This signals a subtle shift toward gameplay complexity, where GTA VI doesn’t just reward firepower but also intelligent preparation and inventory management.

3. Gear: Personal and Functional

The third segment — gear — suggests a category apart from weapons or immediate tools. Gear could include:

Parkour aids or movement enhancers

Environmental interaction tools

Disguise elements or story items

Customizable accessories that impact gameplay

Instead of burying these in menus, placing gear in the weapon wheel itself implies that Rockstar wants these items to be readily accessible without interrupting the flow of play. It’s a nod to modern open-world design philosophies that avoid deep menu navigation in the midst of action.

DualWielding: A Game Changer for Combat Flow

One of the most exciting inclusions in the new weapon system is dual-wielding — the ability to hold and fire two weapons at once.

Dual-wielding isn’t new to gaming, but executing it well in a GTA context presents unique opportunities and challenges:

Why DualWielding Matters

Enhanced Firepower: Players can combine two weapons to amplify their offensive capability — imagine two pistols, or a pistol paired with a shotgun.

Player Creativity: Dual-wielding invites experimentation. Do you want the maximum rate of fire? Dual SMGs. Balanced control and power? A pistol plus a compact rifle.

Cinematic Flair: GTA thrives on over-the-top combat set pieces. Dual-wielding enhances the audiovisual spectacle, making firefights feel more intense and stylized.

Mechanics and Balance

In most shooters with dual-wielding, accuracy and control often trade off for firepower. GTA VI will likely follow this intuition:

Less accurate shots due to recoil

Limited aim assist for second weapons

Faster depletion of ammo reserves

But beyond raw mechanics, the context GTA VI creates for dual-wielding may be its most compelling aspect — whether that’s in story missions, random encounters, or player-initiated chaos.

Quick Item Inventory: Streamlining Access

Another UI innovation tied to the weapon wheel is the quick item inventory, displayed in the bottom left corner of the screen.

In previous GTA titles, quick items such as snacks, armor, or temporary boosts were tucked into menus or accessed via less intuitive controls. The new quick item inventory aims to:

Present essential items at a glance

Allow one-button access without pausing gameplay

Reduce menu scrolling mid-combat or mid-mission

This design choice reflects a broader trend in modern HUD design — clean yet informative, always available without distracting the player from the unfolding action.

Visual Integration

By placing the inventory in the bottom left, Rockstar leverages a position that:

Is easily viewed peripherally

Doesn’t intersect critical targeting visuals

Balances information density with screen clarity

This helps ensure players can stay immersed in the world without sacrificing awareness of their resources.

Evolution Through Development: Leaks vs. Reality

So far, much of what the public knows about the GTA VI weapon wheel comes from leaked recreations rather than official gameplay footage. Leaks like these often spark excitement but also warrant skepticism: game systems are frequently revised throughout development.

Rockstar Games is known for iterative design — tweaking UI and mechanics based on internal playtesting and creative evolution. The early weapon wheel we see now might differ significantly from the final product released to players.

Still, even preliminary glimpses offer valuable insight:

Rockstar is rethinking core systems rather than recycling old ones.

Gameplay feels more responsive and modular.

Player interaction with inventory and combat is being prioritized at a systemic level.

In other words, the weapon wheel isn’t just a fancy menu — it’s a reflection of how GTA VI balances accessibility with complexity.

Combat Feedback: Health Alerts and Immersion

Combat in Grand Theft Auto has always been visceral — bullets fly, explosions rock the environment, and chaos is often just around the corner. In the leaked videos, one detail that stands out is a health tip appearing on screen after Jason’s health decreases in a firefight.

What This Implies

When an NPC shoots at Jason (the presumed protagonist), and a health tip pops up on the left side of the screen, several design philosophies are revealed:

1. Dynamic Feedback

Players are no longer left to intuit their state; the game actively informs them when they take damage — possibly with context-sensitive tips like:

“Your health is low — find cover.”

“Use a health item to recover.”

“Seek shelter from incoming fire.”

These prompts aid both new players and veterans, tailoring guidance without unnecessary interruption.

2. Environmental Awareness

By triggering a health prompt only under certain conditions (e.g., taking damage from enemies), the game reinforces situational responsiveness instead of static HUD bars.

This can heighten tension — you won’t just see a health bar drop, you’ll feel the world reacting to your vulnerability.

3. Immersive Danger Signals

Rather than breaking immersion with generic messages, integrating health feedback into the gameplay flow makes combat feel more consequential. Every bullet hit becomes an event that matters — something GTA VI seems intent on leveraging.

NPC Interactions: Combat and Consequence

Beyond player feedback, the moment where an NPC shoots at Jason — triggering a health alert — also suggests a world where:

NPCs are more reactive

Combat can spring from unexpected situations

Player actions have immediate and visible consequences

In previous GTA games, NPC combat involvement varied depending on missions and chaos level. If GTA VI builds on this, NPCs could:

Call for backup

Adjust behavior based on player notoriety

Respond dynamically to the environment and threats

This means that even simple moments — walking down a street or entering a restricted area — might trigger an evolving response from the world around you.

Player Expression Meets System Depth

Collectively, these weapon wheel and combat feedback changes point toward a GTA experience that values both player freedom and mechanical depth.

Where earlier games offered:

Tools of chaos and opportunity,

GTA VI appears to be adding:

Tools of mastery and consequence.

This shift reflects a broader trend in AAA open-world design — one that acknowledges players want systems they can learn, exploit, customize buy GTA 6 Money, and grow into over time.

Combat Players

For players who love gunplay and confrontation:

Dual-wielding introduces new offensive options.

Quick items streamline strategic decisions.

A structured weapon wheel reduces decision fatigue.

Tactical Players

For players who prefer planning or stealth:

Equipment categories enhance non-combat approaches.

Gear slots could change how players approach missions.

Environmental feedback reinforces cautious playstyles.