How to Play GTA 6 as a Professional Criminal

The professional path is GTA 6's most interesting way to play: plan the job, take what you came for, and leave without turning the neighbourhood into a war zone. It's also the path that keeps the most story options open. Here's how to stay on it.

The professional mindset

A professional adapts. Every job has a plan, a backup and an exit. Violence is a last resort.

Before the job

• Scout: cameras, alarm, back door, number of people.
• Gear: mask, throwaway gun, burnable outfit, clean outfit in the car.
• Vehicle: an older, untracked getaway car parked nearby, fuelled.
• Partner: decide who goes in and who watches.

During the job

• Enter quietly. Back door, alarm off.
• Threaten, don't shoot. Intimidation counts toward professional.
• Disarm heroes with Focus. Yellow-zone shots to the weapon or legs.
• Never shoot people who've complied.
• Leave the moment you have the money. Greed raises heat.

After the job

• Hollow stars? Walk. Don't run.
• Split up, change clothes, swap cars.
• Bank the cash.

Habits to avoid

• Shooting bystanders or police unnecessarily.
• Killing police dogs.
• Firing to scare people when a threat would do.
• Joyriding through crowds.

Is it worth it?

Rockstar has confirmed that behaviour in criminal encounters influences how the story unfolds, and a professional reputation should make many things easier. And if you want to cause chaos, do it on a second save — a profile pushed too far into Psycho can break permanently.