Game Informer has published its highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI cover story, revealing a huge amount of new information about Rockstar's upcoming open-world game.
The 14-page preview, based on conversations with Rockstar developers, takes a closer look at how the studio built Leonida, the game's version of Florida, as well as its cities, wildlife, weather, characters, police systems, activities, and more.
With GTA 6 scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, these details give us one of the clearest looks yet at what Rockstar has been building. Here you find the full recap of the biggest revelations from Game Informer's GTA 6 preview.
GTA 6's Map Is About Twice the Size of GTA 5's
One of the biggest takeaways is just how ambitious Rockstar's version of Florida is.
According to Game Informer, Rockstar describes Leonida as its largest map yet, with Aaron Garbut saying it is roughly twice the size of the map in GTA 5.
Size isn't the only focus, though. Rockstar has also put considerable effort into making the world denser, more interactive, and more detailed, with a greater number of interiors and activities for players to discover.
The six main regions of Leonida are:
- Vice City
- Leonida Keys
- Grassrivers
- Port Gellhorn
- Ambrosia
- Mount Kalaga National Park
Vice City itself has been rebuilt and expanded for GTA 6's modern-day setting, while the rest of Leonida provides a much broader range of environments.
Beyond the city, players can explore beaches, swamps, industrial areas, abandoned tourist attractions, and rural countryside.
There is also plenty to do away from the main roads, including ATV trails, mud parks, demolition derbies, mountain biking, motocross, golf, farms and ranches.
Rockstar is also putting much more emphasis on what exists inside and between Leonida's buildings. GTA 6 will feature more interiors than any previous Grand Theft Auto game, with the developers paying particular attention to rooftops, alleys, and the spaces between major locations.
The map itself has also received a visual overhaul. The pause-menu map uses a satellite-style appearance, giving players a different way to view and navigate Leonida.
GTA 6 Has a More Dynamic Weather System
Rockstar has also completely re-engineered GTA 6's weather system, building on the technology introduced in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Weather is now more localized and persistent, with dynamic cloud formations moving across Leonida and producing different conditions depending on where you are. One part of the map can be experiencing heavy rain while another nearby area remains completely sunny.
The effects of bad weather can also remain after the storm has passed. Rain creates puddles and wet surfaces, while the right conditions can produce rainbows.
Wind has received a major upgrade as well. Offshore breezes, convectional updrafts and the way buildings block or redirect wind can all influence the environment. Hair, debris, water and vegetation can react accordingly.
Rockstar has also confirmed tropical storms and hurricanes, although it has yet to explain how frequently they will occur or exactly how they will affect gameplay.
Jason and Lucia's Relationship Can Change
Jason and Lucia's relationship is another area where GTA 6 appears to offer considerably more player interaction than previous games. Players can switch between the two protagonists at almost any time, and the pair will frequently work together during missions.
Their story begins with a botched score and eventually pulls them into a much larger criminal conspiracy, but the way their personal relationship develops can also vary.
According to Game Informer's preview, players can influence whether Jason and Lucia remain close friends or develop a romantic relationship. Small interactions can contribute to their bond, including things such as holding hands, opening doors for one another, staying in contact, and simply spending time together.
Interestingly, Rockstar isn't treating this as a traditional relationship system with gameplay bonuses. Instead, the relationship can influence parts of the story, while neither romantic nor platonic path provides a direct gameplay advantage.
Robberies can also have an impact beyond the immediate payout. When Jason and Lucia carry out a robbery together, successfully working as a team can strengthen their relationship.
This ties the game's criminal activities directly into the protagonists' personal story, giving players another way to influence their relationship through gameplay.
GTA 6 Will Encourage Multiple Playthroughs
Rockstar is also putting more emphasis on player choice.
The decisions you make throughout GTA 6, both large and smaller ones, will influence how the story develops. This could result in different outcomes and encourage players to return to the game for another playthrough.
That philosophy also extends to some of the game's criminal activities.
Robberies can reportedly be approached in different ways, including going in quietly or taking a more aggressive approach. How much a situation escalates can influence the police response, while certain missions can also be affected by how much money Jason and Lucia have available.
This could make GTA 6's missions feel less rigid than those in previous games.
Six-Star Wanted Levels Are Back
The classic six-star Wanted Level system is returning in GTA 6, but Rockstar is also introducing a new Heat system that adds another layer to police encounters.
Police can use information from a crime scene, including your appearance and location, to identify you.
That means simply driving away from a crime may not always be enough to escape.
Changing your clothes or hairstyle, abandoning your getaway vehicle, and separating from your partner can all help you avoid being identified.
This should make escaping the police considerably more involved than simply watching the minimap and waiting for the wanted stars to disappear.
And if Jason or Lucia is arrested, the familiar "Busted" screen can still appear.
GTA 6 Has More Than 170 Animal Species
If you thought GTA 6's wildlife was impressive based on the trailers, Game Informer's preview suggests we've only seen a fraction of it.
Rockstar says Leonida is home to more than 170 animal species, including more than 60 types of birds and various native species that have never appeared in a Rockstar game.
The confirmed wildlife includes:
- Alligators
- Manatees
- Flamingos
- Pelicans
- Sharks
- Whales
- Rays
- Turtles
- Jellyfish
- Iguanas
- Macaques
Rockstar has also created systems for tracking animals. Animals fall into Rare, Discoverable, and Legendary categories, although Rockstar is keeping the identities of the Legendary animals secret for now.
The wildlife simulation goes considerably further than simply adding more animals to the map.
Marine animals have their own distinct movement behaviours, while wildlife can display visual characteristics such as iridescence, bioluminescence and translucency. Animal fur and feathers can also react to their surroundings, with fur becoming wet, dirty, matted and clumped depending on the environment.
Stealing Cars Is More Complicated
Vehicle theft is also receiving some major changes.
Some cars will require special tools to steal, while expensive vehicles can have additional security systems and trackers.
The new WAiNK phone app can provide information about a vehicle, including its security features, the cost of registering it and its estimated resale value.
That means stealing a car in GTA 6 isn't necessarily as simple as breaking a window and driving away.
Players may need to consider whether a vehicle is worth stealing in the first place and what will be required to successfully make use of it.
Ride-Sharing Can Be Used for Fast Travel
Leonida is huge, and Rockstar appears to be giving players several ways to get around it.
The RydeMe ride-sharing app can be used for fast travel, allowing Jason or Lucia to call a driver and travel to another location.
The system isn't simply a loading screen, either.
Players can interact with their driver, listen to radio stations featuring new licensed music and browse in-game social media during the journey.
Jason and Lucia can view social media posts, although they won't create their own posts because their status as wanted criminals makes doing so rather impractical.
There Is Plenty to Do Outside the Story
GTA 6 is shaping up to have an enormous number of side activities for players who want to step away from the main storyline.
Game Informer's preview confirms the following activities:
- Base jumping
- Billiards
- Gym workouts
- Kayaking
- Mini golf
- Scuba diving
- Street racing
- Off-road racing
- Air boating
- Jet skiing
- Zoos
Combined with the previously revealed landmarks, sports and other activities, this suggests that Leonida is designed to be explored rather than simply crossed while travelling between story missions.
NPCs Are More Detailed Than Ever
Rockstar is also putting significant effort into the people who inhabit Leonida.
NPCs aren't simply being given different outfits and faces. Rockstar has created a much broader range of physical characteristics, including different heights, body types, musculature and localized body-fat distribution.
Skin can feature details such as freckles, moles and tanning, while hairstyles, tattoos and body grooming have been designed to better reflect different people and locations.
Clothing also changes according to factors such as location, social situation, weathering, dirt and fit. Rockstar says GTA 6 features its largest range of clothing and accessories yet.
Rockstar has even dedicated a team to writing ambient NPC dialogue, which should help make conversations around the world feel more varied and specific to their surroundings.
GTA 6 Is Looking More Ambitious by the Day
Game Informer's latest preview adds another substantial layer to what we already know about GTA 6.
The most striking thing isn't necessarily one individual feature. It's the sheer number of systems Rockstar appears to be connecting together.
Weather affects the environment. Police can identify criminals based on their appearance and location. Vehicles have different security systems. Animals have their own tracking categories. Jason and Lucia's relationship can influence the story. Even something as simple as taking a ride-share can become an interactive experience.
And all of this takes place across a map that Rockstar says is roughly twice the size of GTA 5's.
There are still plenty of unanswered questions, but the latest information suggests Rockstar isn't simply making a bigger Grand Theft Auto. It is attempting to make Leonida feel like a living ecosystem where different systems constantly interact with one another.
With GTA 6 launching on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, we don't have too much longer to wait before we can experience it for ourselves.
Game Informer's 14-page GTA 6 cover story also includes 12 new screenshots, providing an even closer look at Rockstar's version of Leonida.
For more on GTA 6, check out our main GTA 6 Hub, the full GTA 6 Soundtrack list, and the list of confirmed Vehicles for the game.
or post as a guest
Be the first to comment.