Grand Theft Auto 5’s radio stations featured some of the most iconic tracks in the series' history, so Grand Theft Auto 6 has its work cut out to surpass its predecessor. While the selection of songs for the official soundtrack fit the title well upon its release, GTA 6’s stations could take this to the next level, establishing a soundtrack that mixes well with the sequel's premise. This was done in L.A. Noire, with most songs on the radio discussing crimes and the police, which made the game more charming.
Radio stations in GTA 5 were made through a selected list of songs that are shuffled when players get into a car and start driving. However, after nine years since the initial release of the game, new songs and stations being added in updates, and no signs of Rockstar letting GTA 5 go, they have grown to become increasingly repetitive. GTA 6's stations should avoid this problem simply by being new, but there are a few timeless songs that could make them better than GTA 5's.
There have been many songs that have grown in popularity since the release of GTA 5 that could be included in GTA 6 and spice up the stations, such as Bad Guy by Billie Eilish and Blinding Lights by The Weeknd. However, a great selection of songs can enhance players’ experience and completely alter their perception of events in-game, being possibly used to intensify action scenes, like Rob Zombie’s Dragula, or make driving throughout GTA 6’s large map become more entertaining, such as Michael Jackson’s Speed Demon. By using songs that support players’ immersion and connect to the game, GTA 6’s stations could be better than GTA 5’s.
