GTA VI: Features 90
story 7
Two playable protagonists: Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos Official
The story follows a couple, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, who are pulled into a criminal conspiracy across the state of Leonida after a simple job goes wrong. Both are playable.
Switching between Jason and Lucia Identified in footage
The player can swap control between the two leads in free roam and in many missions. Rockstar North's Rob Nelson told IGN the mechanic is kept as open as possible but is locked at certain story moments.
The other protagonist keeps an own routine Reported, not confirmed
The character who is not being controlled goes about a personal schedule, so switching may find them at the safehouse or out doing something else. In IGN's demo, switching to Jason found him in the shower.
Criminal Profile reputation system Reported, not confirmed
A reputation system called the Criminal Profile records what kind of criminal each lead is. Rockstar says it is not a good-versus-evil meter like Red Dead Redemption 2's Honor; repeated needless violence shifts it and changes how the world reacts.
Player choices in the story Reported, not confirmed
According to Rob Nelson, the game has many small choices that add up and a few bigger ones that matter in the moment, rather than single decisions that visibly reshape a town.
Missions that can turn systemic Reported, not confirmed
Missions leave more room than in earlier entries: the tower-block escape has several ways out, and the getaway with Raul becomes an ordinary police chase if the suggested route is ignored.
Story length estimate Reported, not confirmed
Rob Nelson of Rockstar North estimated roughly 80 hours for the main story together with narrative side content. This is a developer estimate relayed by press, not a figure on Rockstar's site.
driving 7
Swapping seats while riding together Identified in footage
When both leads share a vehicle the player can switch to the other seat, letting the partner drive to the destination or taking the gun while the other drives during a chase. The passenger can also use the phone.
Vehicle mod shops Official
Cars can be customised at mod shops with different specialities. Rockstar names Rideout Customs (detailed interiors, rims, donk builds) and One-Eyed Willie's in Lake Leonida (off-road parts and hand-painted artwork), plus a retro build kit for Jason's Vapid Ganado pickup.
Layered car theft with tools Identified in footage
Parked cars are no longer all instantly stealable. Some need tools such as a slim jim or a key cloner, and certain cars stay out of reach until the story provides the right equipment; carjacking a driver is always possible.
Trackers on stolen cars Reported, not confirmed
Some vehicles carry an advanced tracker, shown by a blinking red light on the HUD. Driving such a car too slowly lets it report its position to the police.
Personal vehicles: call, register, store gear Reported, not confirmed
The player has a personal vehicle that can be called at any time and holds weapons and spare outfits. Stolen cars can be registered as the player's own for a fee.
Ryde Me ride-hailing as fast travel Reported, not confirmed
An in-game ride-hailing service called Ryde Me takes the player across the map and works as fast travel; the ride can also be sat through while chatting.
Driving and road design Reported, not confirmed
Rob Nelson said streets are narrower and closer to real scale with denser traffic, which makes driving somewhat more demanding. Press also report that racing drivers were consulted on handling.
social 10
Jason and Lucia relationship system Reported, not confirmed
A dedicated system tracks the couple's bond, separate from the criminal reputation system. It grows through time spent together and can weaken if neglected; Rockstar describes engaging with the romance as optional.
Quality time and dates Reported, not confirmed
Shared activities count toward the relationship: robbing places together, walking and holding hands, visiting a zoo, studying animals, scuba diving, parachuting, kayaking, beach walks, pool, mini golf and hikes.
Texting and calling the partner Identified in footage
Jason and Lucia can message or call each other at any time, for example to check whether the other escaped the police. Previews say ignoring the partner's messages can hurt the relationship.
Smartphone as a physical object Reported, not confirmed
The phone is held in the character's hand in the world rather than shown as an overlay, and it hosts apps for social media, vehicle scanning, ride-hailing and audio.
Snapmatic social feed (browse only) Identified in footage
Snapmatic returns as an in-game social network where the player follows accounts and scrolls a feed. Jason and Lucia cannot post because they are on the run.
Storylines told through social media Reported, not confirmed
Some characters' arcs play out in viral posts, notably the rap duo Real Dimez, whom Rockstar describes as building fame through a constant social media presence.
Phone vehicle scanner (WAINK) Reported, not confirmed
A phone tool scans a parked car and reports its lock, alarm and tracker, its value at a Pay 'n' Spray or car fence and the cost of registering it. Rob Nelson described the scanner; press name the app WAINK.
Livestreaming and content-creator NPCs Identified in footage
People in the world film themselves and livestream on their phones, continuing the social media satire of the first trailer.
Radio on foot through headphones Official
For the first time in the series, radio can be heard outside vehicles: Jason and Lucia can wear headphones or earbuds connected to their smartphones.
On-demand podcasts Official
A set of on-demand podcasts is available alongside broadcast radio, a first for the series, playable both in vehicles and on foot.
world 16
Setting: Vice City and the state of Leonida Official
The game takes place in Vice City and the wider fictional state of Leonida, the series' take on Miami and Florida.
Six named regions Official
Rockstar's site presents six areas to explore: Vice City, Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga (National Park).
Map size statements Reported, not confirmed
No area figure is official. Game Informer's cover story quotes Rockstar's Aaron Garbut saying the map is about twice the size of GTA V's and the studio's largest; other outlets describe it as roughly three times Red Dead Redemption 2's playable area. Rob Nelson only called it a very big map.
Official map of Leonida at launch Official
Rockstar said a printable cover-art poster with a map of Leonida will be offered as a free digital download on launch day, with a physical version sold later through the Rockstar Store.
Localised, persistent weather Reported, not confirmed
Weather is modelled on Florida's tropical climate with moving cloudscapes. Rain can be seen falling in the distance from a dry spot, puddles remain after a shower and rainbows can form in the right light.
Tropical storms and hurricanes Reported, not confirmed
Leonida can be hit by tropical storms and seasonal hurricanes with heavy rain, strong wind, thunder and lightning. Rockstar has not said how often they occur or whether they affect missions.
More than 170 animal species Reported, not confirmed
Leonida has over 170 species on land, in the air and at sea, including flamingos, manatees, pelicans and alligators plus invasive animals such as green iguanas, cane toads, feral cats and rhesus macaques. Some have never appeared in a Rockstar game.
Petting or scolding dogs Identified in footage
Dogs can be petted or told off. In the Extended Look, Jason pets a dog and a small angel-style icon appears, which press link to the reputation system.
Underwater exploration and sea life Identified in footage
The sea can be explored by swimming and scuba diving, with marine animals such as manatees, dolphins, rays, sharks, turtles and jellyfish.
Talking to, provoking or defusing NPCs Reported, not confirmed
Building on Red Dead Redemption 2, the player can greet or antagonise passers-by, and aiming a weapon can make people back down without a fight. NPCs notice when someone lingers to eavesdrop and may leave or turn hostile.
NPC variety and animation count Reported, not confirmed
Press report around 600,000 NPC animations, against roughly 55,000 in GTA V, and a population styled per district with varied ages, builds and fashion. Some NPCs are armed and may start violence themselves.
Enterable interiors Identified in footage
The Extended Look moves through apartments, a tower block with lifts and stairwells, a rooftop bar, a diner, shops and a strip club. Aaron Garbut told Game Informer the team reached a critical mass of interiors; no count was given.
Interactive safehouses Identified in footage
Safehouses are more interactive than in past GTA games and are compared by Rockstar to the camps of Red Dead Redemption 2. The first one shown belongs to someone else: Brian Heder lets Jason live in one of his properties.
In-world television and adverts Identified in footage
Televisions show fictional commercials, and Rob Nelson said the game has more radio and TV adverts than any earlier entry.
Unmarked discoveries Reported, not confirmed
Rob Nelson said much of the world's content is found by exploring rather than through objectives or map icons, in the manner of Red Dead Redemption 2.
Random street encounters Identified in footage
Unscripted meetings with strangers occur while roaming; IGN's demo included an unplanned encounter with a man in a dumpster and the Extended Look shows a livestreaming content creator.
activities 19
Studying and tracking animals Reported, not confirmed
Animals can be studied and logged as a collection activity, and some can be tracked in three tiers named Rare, Discoverable and Legendary. The species in the harder tiers are not disclosed.
Fishing Official
Rockstar's description of the Ultimate Edition Squalo boat says it is suited to casting a line in Gambit Bay and reeling in catches, which confirms fishing as an activity.
Gyms, diet and changing bodies Reported, not confirmed
Working out at gyms raises muscle or strength levels and overeating adds weight, with visible effects on both leads. Going to the gym together trains both at once, and long periods without sleep show on their faces.
Scuba diving Identified in footage
Scuba diving appears in the Extended Look's activity montage and is listed by Rockstar developers among things the couple can do together.
Kayaking Official
Kayaks are usable; Rockstar names a Crest Kayak as one of Jason's safehouse vehicles in the Ultimate Edition, and kayaking is shown in the Extended Look.
Airboats in the wetlands Identified in footage
Airboats (fan boats) can be driven through the Grassrivers swamps. Rockstar's radio announcement also mentions a character broadcasting from his Grassrivers airboat.
Jet skis Identified in footage
Jet skis are rideable, and the two leads can ride one together.
Parachuting and base jumping Identified in footage
Lucia parachutes off a building in the Extended Look, and base jumping and skydiving are listed among the game's activities.
Street, off-road and dirt-bike racing Identified in footage
Races are available on roads and off-road, including dirt-bike events.
Pool and mini golf Reported, not confirmed
Billiards and mini golf are named by Rockstar developers as everyday pastimes for the couple.
Basketball Reported, not confirmed
Basketball is listed by several outlets among free-roam activities seen in preview material.
Zoos Reported, not confirmed
Zoos can be visited, and doing so counts as time spent together for Jason and Lucia.
Backyard wrestling Identified in footage
Backyard wrestling appears in the Extended Look montages and is listed as an activity by encyclopedic sources.
Clubs and a strip club Identified in footage
Nightlife venues can be entered, including clubs and a strip club; Rockstar's bio of Boobie Ike says his empire includes a strip club.
Raiding gang compounds Official
Gang compounds can be attacked for loot. The Ultimate Edition adds one such raid on a Southside Vice City gang's illegal goods store, rewarding special items and contraband.
Classic Car Collection commission Official
An Ultimate Edition commission from a collector and fixer named Wyman has the player find abandoned classics and unfinished project cars and restore them.
Hair salons, facial hair, makeup and nails Official
Salons offer hairstyles for both leads, with facial hair for Jason and makeup and nails for Lucia; each salon has its own signature styles. Basic trims are possible at home, per previews.
Tattoo parlors Official
Both leads can get tattoos. The Ultimate Edition's Electric Fang parlor in Stockyard alone has more than 50 designs made by the artist collective FAILE.
Clothing stores and outfits Official
Outfits for Jason and Lucia are bought at clothing stores, and spare outfits can be kept in a personal vehicle's trunk. Clothing matters for gameplay because police remember what a suspect was wearing.
combat 16
Focus mode Reported, not confirmed
A mode called Focus, compared by Rob Nelson to Eagle Eye in Red Dead Redemption 2, highlights things of interest nearby, including police officers.
Cover-based shooting Identified in footage
Gunfights use a cover system, with the leads sheltering behind walls and furniture. Previewers described the shooting as snappier than in earlier GTA games.
Hand-to-hand fighting Identified in footage
Fist fights are shown, mainly with Lucia, including a brawl in a car wash and a moment where she breaks out of a choke and takes her attacker's gun.
Slow-motion kill camera Identified in footage
Some kills, such as headshots, trigger a brief slow-motion camera.
Threatening and incapacitating instead of killing Reported, not confirmed
Situations can be handled in degrees: pointing a gun to scare people off, knocking someone out, or shooting to incapacitate. An incapacitated NPC is marked with a yellow X.
Adrenaline Reported, not confirmed
A temporary Adrenaline state can trigger while fighting or fleeing the police and helps the player get away. Rockstar has not detailed its exact effects.
Shooting out tyres in chases Identified in footage
Hitting the tyres of pursuing cars can send them out of control and block the vehicles behind.
Limited weapon loadout Reported, not confirmed
Reports say the leads carry only a few weapons at a time, commonly described as two long guns and two sidearms, instead of an unlimited arsenal. Rockstar has not published the exact rules and guides disagree on the slot breakdown; a weapon wheel is still used for selection.
Weapons and outfits in the car trunk Reported, not confirmed
Purchased weapons are always available from the back of the player's personal vehicle, and changes of clothes can be stored in the trunk as well.
Engraved and patterned weapon variants Official
Weapons can have personalised variants. Rockstar lists engraved versions of Jason's Girardi ES9 and Lucia's Klose K17 pistols, a pair of decorated Hawk & Little Morgan revolvers with scopes, and a pre-order weapon pattern.
Wanted level up to six stars Identified in footage
The wanted meter returns with a maximum of six stars, one more than in GTA V.
Crimes must be witnessed or trigger an alarm Reported, not confirmed
A crime only reaches the police if someone sees it and reports it or an alarm goes off. Rockstar says this is meant to reward a hit-and-run style: leave before officers arrive and avoid escalating.
Heat: what the police know about you Reported, not confirmed
On-screen icons show what the police have identified, such as the outfit, the vehicle or the fact that the suspects are a couple. Hollow stars mean they have no description yet. Small accessories or a haircut do not help; changing outfit or switching to an unseen car does.
Crime scenes stay hot on the map Reported, not confirmed
After an escape the area of the crime remains an active police zone for a while, visible on the map, and returning there restores the wanted level.
Splitting up to lose the police Reported, not confirmed
Because police may be looking for a couple, separating Jason and Lucia lowers their attention. Getting away on foot through alleys is advised at three stars in the city unless the vehicle is very fast.
Arrest means a restart, no jail system Reported, not confirmed
If either lead is arrested the game shows Busted and respawns the player as in earlier entries; there is no separate jail, court or bail mechanic.
economy 8
Robbing shops and other targets Identified in footage
Small businesses such as diners, pawn shops and convenience stores can be held up, alone or as a pair, and robbery targets are tracked as a core way to earn money between missions.
Safes: find the code or blow it Reported, not confirmed
During a robbery a safe can be opened by tracking down its combination, which keeps the full take, or with an explosive, which is quicker but damages part of the contents. Staying longer raises the chance of police arriving.
Bank robberies and heist crews Identified in footage
Banks can be robbed, and the story involves Raul Bautista, described by Rockstar as a veteran bank robber recruiting a crew. The Extended Look includes a getaway after one of his jobs.
Garages with weapon lockers and loot drop-off Official
Rockstar's text describes the Paradise Garage in Watson Bay as having a weapon locker and a secure place to leave stolen goods until they are fenced. The pre-order pack adds another garage near Ocean Beach.
Fences for stolen goods Official
Loot such as jewellery is sold to fences, shown on the map with a dollar marker. Rockstar's own edition text also refers to storing stolen goods to be fenced.
Car fences and police impound lots Reported, not confirmed
Specialist car fences buy stolen vehicles, pay less for damaged ones and can tip the player off to wanted cars, such as one held in a police impound lot with a door code. Cars can be repaired before delivery.
Money gates story progress Reported, not confirmed
Rob Nelson said money matters more than in previous GTA stories: at certain points the player must earn cash in the open world, for example by stealing cars or holding up businesses, before the mission flow continues.
Eating restores health Reported, not confirmed
Food gives a substantial health boost, and snacks and drinks can be bought in shops or taken from the fridge at the safehouse.
technical 5
Largest radio line-up in the series Official
Rockstar says the game has the series' biggest and most varied set of in-game stations, ranging from classic rock to talk radio. Six stations have been named so far; the full list is not published.
Adaptive original score by Justice Official
The original score is composed by the French duo Justice and is adaptive, tuned to how the player engages with the world during the story. The score album has 30 tracks plus digital bonus tracks and is dated 2026-12-11.
Platforms and release date Official
The game releases on 2026-11-19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. No PC version has been announced.
Download size Official
Rockstar states that the pre-load needs up to 212 GB depending on the console. Pre-loading opened on 2026-11-10.
Extended Look captured on PlayStation 5 Identified in footage
The roughly 26-minute Extended Look was recorded entirely from the PlayStation 5 version. It premiered on Netflix on 2026-08-27 and reached YouTube and Rockstar's site six hours later; it uses in-character dialogue and has no narrator.
online 2
No microtransactions in the story at launch Reported, not confirmed
Press report Rockstar saying the single-player campaign launches without microtransactions and that no generative AI was used in development. The store listing still carries an in-game purchases label.
Online mode not yet detailed Official
Rockstar has shown no multiplayer for GTA VI and has focused its material on the story. The pre-order bonus month of GTA+ is described with benefits for the existing GTA Online.