Day-to-night and its vice versa cycle in games have been a point of debate among gamers, and for "Grand Theft Auto VI," it has been a point of discussion among many fans.
"GTA VI" is still months away from its November release, and Rockstar Games has kept most of its system details tightly locked.
Fans Are Torn Over 'GTA VI' Day and Night Cycle
A Reddit thread asking whether "GTA VI" should slow down its cycle compared to past Rockstar games has struck a nerve, splitting fans into two camps with strong opinions on both sides.
In "Red Dead Redemption 2" and "GTA 5," a full in-game 24-hour cycle takes exactly 48 minutes of real time. That works fine as a baseline for most games, but the Reddit thread has surfaced a growing feeling that 48 minutes is too fast for a game built around immersion and open-world exploration.
"In 'GTA 5' and 'RDR2,' a full 24-hour cycle takes exactly 48 minutes of real time. While that worked fine for a long time, when I'm actually immersed in the world, just driving around or exploring details, the days feel like they fly by at warp speed," the original poster wrote. "You look up, and suddenly it's nighttime again, and a beautiful sunrise lasts for all of 45 seconds."
This speed might have suited "RDR2," a game with a deliberately slower, more contemplative pace. But in the faster, more chaotic "GTA 5," the rapid cycling can feel jarring rather than immersive, said other fans (via ComicBook Gaming).
Fans Want a Longer Day/Night Cycle on 'GTA VI'
Many commenters in the thread are pushing for a longer cycle, with 60 or even 90 minutes of real time per full in-game day being the most commonly suggested targets.
One fan said they wanted a longer cycle specifically because scenic moments disappear too fast, arguing that beautiful weather and lighting in a living open world deserve more than a few seconds of screen time before the game moves on.
Another noted that the faster pace makes it harder to feel truly embedded in the world during extended exploration sessions.
The weather system discussion also came up, with multiple posters observing that storms and sunsets in "RDR2" look incredible but blow through so quickly that players barely have time to appreciate them before conditions shift again.
Same Day/Night Cycle on 'RDR2' For 'GTA VI'
Not everyone wants a change though, as the top comment in the entire thread landed in defense of the existing 48-minute cycle, arguing that it represents a reasonable middle ground. "I think 48 minutes is a pretty good middle ground, lowkey," the user wrote.
"It's almost one proper gaming session long. Too short, and it would amplify the ludonarrative dissonance. And too long, will just make it day too much or night too much," they added.
Other users backing the current system pointed out that "GTA V" benefits from a faster cycle, especially "GTA Online," since the multiplayer experience moves at a much quicker pace than single-player. A slower cycle would drag things out uncomfortably in that mode.
Rockstar is unlikely to clarify this level of mechanical detail before launch, and no official information about "GTA VI's" day and night cycle length has been shared.
