By Ray Ampoloquio · Sep 30, 2026 Updated by Matt Gibbs · Sep 30, 2026 Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI cover story confirms some story missions for Jason and Lucia stay locked until their current income is high enough.

Most of the recent Grand Theft Auto VI cover story was about the virtual world we will soon lose countless hours to. However, one line was about how you play - and pay - your way through Vice City and Leonida , key information that slipped past most people. Apparently, in GTA 6 , some missions will not unlock until you have enough cash, which quietly changes how the whole game is structured.

The detail comes straight from the same feature . As lovestruck robbers and parters-in-crime, Jason and Lucia spend much of the game pulling heists and dodging the law. Rockstar Games says "raising money matters more than ever, as certain missions only become available based on your current income."

In older Grand Theft Auto games, money mostly bought you weapons, cars, property and so on. In GTA 6 , it also buys you access to the story. So, if you're broke and bad at robbing people, among other things, parts of the game will seemingly stay locked until you earn enough money.

Crime in GTA 6 is a risk-and-reward loop, not just a sandbox.

Grand Theft Auto V lets you run its story more or less freely between big heists. Tying mission access to your bank balance with GTA 6 is closer to an RPG, where progression is something you build toward rather than a menu you pick from. It also makes the crimes you commit between missions feel like they matter, since robbing a store is not just for fun anymore.

It is how you buy your way into what comes next. Who said crime doesn't pay?

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