What we know after the big Grand Theft Auto 6 previewThe official look at the blockbuster video game leaves fans and critics impressed.8 hrs ago

After more than 18 months since the last official glimpse of Grand Theft Auto 6, developer Rockstar has shown fans a 26-minute preview of the upcoming blockbuster video game.

Its “extended look” debuted on Netflix, six hours before going live on YouTube, and was the first chance players have had to see detailed footage of the title in action.

The montage, with no commentary or explanatory captions, showed off improved graphics, detailed environments and a selection of car-chases and shoot-outs from the sequel.

The broadcast followed a week of unauthorised gameplay leaks, which the developer said it had been “heartbreaking” to see shared online.

The extended look spent a long time showcasing the relationship between protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Camino, the couple at the centre of GTA 6’s “Bonnie and Clyde” story.

In a preview published on website IGN, the developers said the characters’ story – and the way it unfolds – can be affected by the player’s actions, although they can “opt out” of developing the pair’s bond if they want.

The Netflix preview didn’t show this playing out in detail, but did show the ability to change control between the two characters at different points.

In one segment, Jason was seen lowering Lucia from a window as they escaped from a drug bust in a block of apartments.

A similar switching system was used in Grand Theft Auto 5, which had three playable main characters.

Praise for GTA 6’s graphics was more or less universal, with characters displaying photorealistic faces and lifelike movements.

Fans were also impressed by the detailed locations on show, which included the interiors of apartments, rooftop bars and sleazy underground clubs.

The preview also showcased the various environments of Leonida, the fictional, Florida-inspired US state where GTA 6 is set.

The range of different body shapes and sizes among background characters – something rarely seen in video games – was also highlighted by many players watching online.

Journalist Ryan McCaffrey said GTA 6 “might be the best-looking game I’ve ever seen”.

The impressive visual fidelity has been attributed to the amount of time Rockstar has spent working on the game, and its budget, which is thought to be among the most expensive in video game history.

While GTA 6 appears to break new ground in terms of visuals and scale, it is still, at its heart, a Grand Theft Auto game.

During the preview, viewers saw the armed heists, car chases and criminal underworld scenes that have become a trademark of the series.

Satirical swipes at US culture, darkly comic interactions between characters and a huge range of optional side activities were all present once again.

And Rockstar appears to have expanded on features it introduced in its last major release, 2018 hit Red Dead Redemption 2, such as an “honour” system that affects the player’s reputation among other characters.

Fans of the series, which is estimated to have sold half a billion copies since it launched in 1997, will have been thrilled to see it.

Rockstar had already stated that GTA 6 will be a “single-player experience” on launch, leaving fans to assume a follow-up to the incredibly successful online element of its previous games would come later.

The Netflix preview was dedicated to showing off the story and gameplay, and was not necessarily expected to highlight any new multiplayer features.

Although the launch of the game on 19 November is widely expected to be the biggest of all time, the long-term success of GTA 6 will be judged on how well Rockstar converts players to any new online mode.

GTA online, which also launched after the release of GTA 5, remains one of the most-played games in the world, and is thought to have generated billions of dollars for Rockstar.

The previous game in the series, GTA 5, also broke records when it came out in 2013 and has sold more than 200 million copies since.

Two official trailers for the sixth game have almost 500 million combined views on YouTube, and the Netflix “extended look” on Thursday is being marketed as an event by the streaming service.

Next month the company is due to appear at an employment tribunal in Scotland to defend itself against claims it illegally sacked a group of ex-employees for trying to form a union.

It strongly denies the accusations, and says the workers were fired on the grounds of gross misconduct.

Additional reporting by Thomas Fabbri.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here.