On September 29, Game Informer released digital issue #382 featuring a 14-page cover story on Grand Theft Auto VI. Here's what stood out most.
Six Regions on a Map Twice the Size of GTA 5
Rockstar North co-studio head Aaron Garbut confirmed that Leonida is roughly twice the size of GTA 5's map while also being much denser. This isn't just empty land: the world is packed with alleys, rooftops, and interiors.Image unavailableLeonida is divided into six major regions:
Vice City - a neon-soaked metropolis and the heart of the state;
Leonida Keys - a chain of coastal islands inspired by the Florida Keys;
Grassrivers - wetlands inhabited by alligators and other reptiles;
Port Gellhorn - a small city on the Gulf coast;
Ambrosia - an industrial area farther inland;
Mount Kalaga National Park - a wilderness region with forests and mountain trails.
The northern part of the state draws inspiration from rural Florida, with farms, logging, demolition derbies, mud parties, and tiny communities with private airstrips. Rockstar has stressed that the world doesn't simply end once you leave the city. Swamps, beaches, villages, golf courses, and fishing spots all wait beyond the urban areas.Image unavailable
Unpredictable Weather
Rockstar took the climate systems developed for Red Dead Redemption 2 and reworked them extensively. Rain no longer covers the entire map at once. Weather is localized, meaning you can stand in sunshine while watching a downpour hit a neighboring area. Wet roads and puddles don't disappear instantly either, so you can tell that rain recently passed through an area, and under the right lighting conditions, rainbows may appear afterward.Clouds aren't simply scripted. They form dynamically, ranging from clear winter skies to thunderstorm fronts with lightning. Wind is physically simulated as well, including warm updrafts, evening sea breezes, and airflow around buildings. Gusts can lift debris from rooftops, move swamp grass, ripple the water, and blow through characters' hair. Hurricanes and tropical storms are confirmed, bringing powerful winds, heavy rain, thunder, lightning, and water streaming down rooftops and poles.
More Than 170 Animal Species
Leonida is home to more than 170 animal species across land, air, and sea. That includes more than 60 bird species and over 30 land mammals.Some of the wildlife consists of invasive species that have become a major issue in real-world Florida, including green iguanas, feral cats, cane toads, nine-banded armadillos, and rhesus macaques.Image unavailableRockstar has put significant work into feathers, iridescent coloration, translucency, and bioluminescence. Some animals are divided into rarity categories and can be tracked by their traces, similar to Red Dead Redemption 2.
Highly Detailed NPC Models
Game Informer describes GTA 6's NPCs as the most detailed the series has ever had. A dedicated team is responsible for writing pedestrian dialogue and behavior.Pedestrians vary in height, body shape, muscle mass, and weight distribution, including natural differences in physique. Skin can feature freckles, moles, and tan lines. Tattoos are tied to specific communities and neighborhoods, an area Rockstar reportedly gave an enormous amount of attention. Hairstyles and facial hair are tailored to different ethnic backgrounds. Clothing wears down, gets dirty, and fits differently depending on the person wearing it.Image unavailable
Jason and Lucia
The story begins with a robbery gone wrong, pulling Jason and Lucia deeper into Leonida's criminal world. Players can switch between them in most situations.Their relationship is also a full gameplay system. Completing missions together strengthens their bond, but smaller interactions matter too: answering calls and messages, accepting invitations, holding hands, and opening doors for your partner. Some story scenes can change depending on how close the two become.The wanted system once again features six levels. GTA 6 also introduces a new Heat system: police gather information about your appearance and location, so changing clothes and switching vehicles can help you shake them. Expensive cars require specialized tools to steal, while the WAiNK app can show how well a vehicle is protected and how much it may be worth to resellers.Rockstar Games continues to push its attention to detail with Grand Theft Auto VI. The huge version of Leonida showcased in Game Informer's new feature offers a clearer idea of just how far the studio is going with its next open-world project.
