Rockstar Tried “A Million” Weapon Wheel Alternatives for GTA 6 Before Returning to the Classic Design

Rockstar Games reportedly spent years experimenting with the weapon-selection system for Grand Theft Auto 6, even testing alternatives that could have removed one of the franchise’s most recognizable features. According to Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, the developers eventually returned to the familiar weapon wheel after struggling to find a replacement that suited the game.

In a video discussing his reporting on Rockstar, Schreier explained that the studio explored numerous designs while trying to determine how much realism to bring over from Red Dead Redemption 2. 

The experimentation reflected a broader challenge for Rockstar. While Red Dead Redemption 2 emphasizes immersion and restrictions, Grand Theft Auto traditionally gives players a more chaotic, arcade-style experience.

GTA 6 Developers Tested Numerous Weapon Wheel Replacements

One major difference between the two franchises concerns how many weapons players can carry. Red Dead Redemption 2 limits players to a smaller selection of firearms, encouraging a more deliberate approach to combat. Rockstar reportedly wanted GTA 6 to adopt similar restrictions rather than let players carry an extensive arsenal.

However, developers faced a design problem. Keeping the traditional GTA 5 weapon wheel while limiting available guns could leave players looking at empty slots, highlighting weapons they could no longer carry.

As Schreier explained,

“they spent months, if not years, trying a million different things that would replace the weapon wheel.”

He added that the team experimented with “trays and webs and all sorts of different things,” including ideas that removed the interface entirely. Despite the extensive prototyping, none of the alternatives ultimately replaced the original system.

“After all that, they just wound up back at a weapon wheel and in the final game it’s just a weapon wheel again,”

Schreier said.

Rockstar’s Search for GTA 6’s Identity Frustrated Developers

The weapon wheel was one example of the uncertainty surrounding GTA 6’s development between 2019 and 2022. Schreier reported that Rockstar was still working out the game’s direction, with some designers growing frustrated by prolonged experimentation and leaving the company.

According to Schreier, the project began to take shape around late 2022 and early 2023. The game’s first trailer, released in December 2023, also helped communicate a clearer vision of what Rockstar was building.

The final weapon system still reflects the studio’s effort to make combat more grounded. Players will have limits on how many guns they can carry, while NPCs are expected to react when characters openly display firearms. These changes aim to make weapon choices and public behavior feel more consequential without abandoning GTA’s familiar gameplay.

Other elements reportedly draw inspiration from Red Dead Redemption 2, including more deliberate gunplay and a Dead Eye-style mechanic. The returning weapon wheel was also visible in Rockstar’s extended look at the game.