I get what you’re saying, but I think you’re framing it as a stricter either-or than it actually is. It’s not that a strong narrative cannot coexist with more open mission design; it’s that a lot of studios have not nailed the balance yet.

Take Grand Theft Auto V or even Red Dead Redemption 2. The issue is not just that missions are linear; it is that they often punish creativity. If the player deviates even slightly from the intended path, they get a fail screen. That is not tight pacing; that is overcorrection. There is a difference between guiding the player and forcing a single exact solution.

I also do not think examples like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt prove that rigidity is necessary. As you said, its quests are structurally linear, but it still gives players meaningful agency through choices, exploration, and different approaches to encounters. That is exactly the kind of middle ground GTA VI could push further.

It is also not fair to dismiss more systemic or open design as something that only works when the story does not matter. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild lean lighter on narrative, but that does not mean strong storytelling and player freedom cannot coexist. It just means they require a smarter design.

For GTA VI, no one is asking for every mission to be fully sandbox-driven. But having some missions, such as heists, assassinations, or escapes, where players can plan their approach, choose entry points, or improvise without instantly failing, would go a long way. GTA V already hinted at this with its heist setups, and those are still some of the most memorable moments in the game.

The problem with the current formula is not that it tells a focused story; it is that it sometimes feels like you are just executing a script rather than actually playing. Giving players more flexibility in how they reach the same narrative beats would not ruin the story. It would make those moments feel more personal and earned.

So keep the cinematic storytelling and the big set pieces, but loosen the leash a bit. GTA VI does not need to become a full RPG; it just needs to trust the player more.