GTA VI retains a star-based wanted level. Official footage shows a four-star encounter involving armed police on the street and a helicopter above the player.
That confirms the recognizable core of the system. It does not yet establish how witnesses, searches, disguises, arrests or escalation rules work.
What four wanted stars communicate
Four stars place the sequence at a high response level. Police vehicles move directly into the street while aerial support occupies the player's line of sight.
The footage does not show the events that produced those stars, so it cannot reveal how quickly the level rises or whether different crimes create different response patterns.
The pursuit closes space on two levels
The SUV, other traffic and debris narrow the road. The helicopter makes open sky part of the threat. This arrangement forces attention between ground movement and an elevated target.
It suggests that pursuit design can use the geometry of a neighborhood rather than only spawning units behind a fleeing car.
Additional red icons remain unexplained
Several small red symbols sit beneath the stars near ammunition information. Their design is visible, but their final names and functions are not clearly explained in the footage.
Assigning each icon a mechanic would turn observation into guesswork. They belong in a HUD inventory as unidentified elements until better documentation appears.
The important unanswered police questions
These questions deserve coverage when evidence exists. For now, the footage supports a visual breakdown, not a complete police AI guide.
- How witnesses report crimes
- Whether changing vehicles or clothing affects recognition
- How search areas and line of sight work
- Whether arrest can replace immediate death
- How police behavior changes by region
Sources checked