RAGE Engine | Ex-dev of Rockstar Games explains the technological evolution from RDR1 to GTA 6

Former GTA 5 dev reveals the "painting on the wall" technique in Red Dead Redemption and how the company is recycling mechanics for GTA 6.

By
Luis Andrade - Owner of Portal Viciados
RDR 2 GTA 6 Red Dead Redemption II Grand Theft Auto VI Rockstar Games Lucia Arthur 2025

Rockstar Games' genius lies not only in creating vast worlds, but also in its rigorous philosophy regarding how these worlds should be presented and interconnected—all of which has evolved through the RAGE Engine.

You can check out more news from Rockstar Games in the video below:

Check it out on YouTube: Rockstar TOOK DOWN the GTA IV V4ZAMENT0… But it was too late!

In an interview with Kiwi Talkz, Rob Carr, the studio’s former audio designer, revealed internal guidelines for Red Dead Redemption 1 and explained how the company’s technologies and narratives evolve with each generation, culminating in Grand Theft Auto VI.

1

Qual o seu protagonista favorito do GTA 6?

gta 6 grand theft auto vi lucia caminos 2026
1 Lucia
gta 6 grand theft auto vi jason duval 2026
2 Jason
Feito por: Ecosistema Partner

Red Dead Redemption: The "picture on the wall" rule

Red Dead Redemption 1 PlayStation 5 PS5 Rockstar Games 2025

Despite having been released three console generations ago, the first Red Dead Redemption has aged very well. Carr points out that this was no accident, but the result of a strict visual requirement imposed on the art and design team: the "picture on the wall" rule.

"One of the first things they said was that, at any moment, you should be able to pause the game, take a screenshot, and frame it on your wall. And man, they delivered on that," recalls Carr.

Red Dead Redemption PS5 Double Eleven Rockstar Games Portal Viciados Rafael Poly Cactus PS5

For him, the combination of impeccable voice acting with one of the best soundtracks of the past 15 years makes John Marston’s adventure a masterpiece. When comparing it to Red Dead Redemption 2, Carr notes that, aside from the raw resolution and fidelity of the new hardware, the essence of the first game proves that it was “decades ahead of its time, honestly.”

Rockstar Games uses its games as tests for the RAGE Engine toward something bigger

GTA 4 Grand Theft Auto IV Remaster PlayStation 5 Xbox Series S X Rockstar Games 2025

Rockstar is a master at using its own releases as testing grounds for the RAGE Engine. Carr highlighted how the GTA 4 expansions (The Ballad of Gay Tony and The Lost and Damned) were crucial to the franchise’s future.

He cites the iconic "Three Leaf Clover" bank heist from GTA 4 and the narrative crossover of the expansions as the blueprint for the character-switching mechanic. This culture of "recycling and improving" good ideas in the RAGE Engine is what underpins Carr’s predictions for GTA 6.

GTA 5 Grand Theft Auto V Michael De Santa Ned Luke Rockstar Games 2026

He uses Dead Eye (the slow-motion feature from Red Dead Redemption) as an example, which was adapted in GTA 5 as the special abilities of Michael, Franklin, and Trevor. Following this logic, it is expected that complex systems from the RAGE Engine in Red Dead Redemption 2 will dictate the gameplay rules in Vice City.

Check out: GTA 5 developer reveals how he was hired by Rockstar Games

Do you like the Viciados Portal? We count on your support! To receive updates, follow us on Google News, Google Discover, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Join the discussion on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram!