Ned Luke, the voice of Michael De Santa in GTA 5, expressed his conviction that critics who point out excessive similarities between GTA 6 and GTA 5 are mistaken.
The actor has maintained a strong presence in the Grand Theft Auto community since his appearance as one of the criminal protagonists in the 2013 release. With the recent showing of what Rockstar Games is preparing for GTA 6, Luke decided to defend the new title against skepticism.
One of the main discussions that arose after the release of “GTA 6: Extended Look” last week was the perception that the gameplay with the main characters Jason and Lucia seemed very similar to the experience offered in GTA 5. Although many recognize Rockstar’s evolution in the 13 years since the release of the previous game, this doubt began to emerge.
Even without having confirmed his participation in the new game’s cast, Luke made a point of refuting the criticism that circulated online. He collaborated with the channels Partychat and House of Highlights, making his position clear when asked about the supposed similarities between GTA 5 and GTA 6.
“This has nothing to do with GTA 5,” said the actor. “I think they’re out of their minds.”
He added, pointing to the character Jason on the screen: “I’ll tell you something: I’ve never looked so good.”
For Ned Luke, one of the clearest examples of Rockstar’s reinvention of the Grand Theft Auto franchise can be seen in the fluidity of the characters’ movements.
“Watch how people move,” Luke continued. “The movements are really human. We still had a bit of that mechanical aspect to our movements and the way we stood. In my case, I felt like my legs were never fully straightened. They always had a slight bend.”
The actor went on to argue: “Technology has evolved by leaps and bounds, you know? What would make you think it’s going to be better than those games? It’s not a discredit to those games. It’s like the difference between GTA 5 and GTA 4. Our graphics left GTA 4 in the dust. There was no comparison.”
Luke also highlighted the high level of detail present in elements such as planes, helicopters and car explosions, as shown in the extended video. He also countered comments suggesting that GTA 6 was not a significant improvement over Red Dead Redemption 2, released in 2018, stating: “Sorry guys, you’re wrong. The graphics here beat Red Dead.”
The actor, who lends his voice to Michael in the GTA universe, has maintained constant contact with Rockstar fans over the years and is recognized for expressing his opinions openly. In 2024, for example, he had already praised Lucia’s inclusion in GTA 6, describing her as “incredible”.
GTA 6 is scheduled for release on November 19th, and will be available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
