Game Informer's GTA 6 cover story confirmed a map twice GTA 5's size, 170+ animal species, a new Heat system, and more. Every feature, with all 12 screenshots.
TL;DR
- Leonida is roughly twice the size of GTA 5's map, denser, with more interiors than any previous Grand Theft Auto, per Rockstar art director Aaron Garbut.
- Over 170 animal species populate it — 60+ birds, 30+ land mammals — sorted into Rare, Discoverable, and Legendary tiers, with the Legendary identities still secret.
- A new Heat system sits on top of the returning six-star wanted level: police identify you by appearance, clothing, vehicle, and whether you're with your partner.
Game Informer's 14-page Issue 382 cover story landed on 29 September, built on interviews with several Rockstar lead designers and accompanied by 12 new screenshots. It is the single largest batch of concrete Grand Theft Auto VI information since the Extended Look — and unlike a trailer, it explains the systems underneath what we've been shown.
Here is every feature Rockstar confirmed, organised by what it actually changes about playing the game. (The weather system received in-depth enough treatment that we broke it out into its own full explainer.)
The Map Is Roughly Twice the Size of GTA 5's
Aaron Garbut, Rockstar's head of development, put a number on it: Leonida is about twice the size of Grand Theft Auto 5's map. More important to him is density. Rockstar describes obsessing over rooftops, alleyways, building interiors, and the spaces between locations, designing the state as one cohesive environment rather than distinct zones stitched together.
GTA 6 will feature more interiors than any previous Grand Theft Auto. The six confirmed regions:
- Vice City
- Leonida Keys
- Grassrivers
- Port Gellhorn
- Ambrosia
- Mount Kalaga National Park
Beyond the city, that spans beaches, swamps, industrial zones, abandoned tourist traps, and rural countryside. The pause-menu map has also been redone with a satellite-style view.
Jason and Lucia's Relationship Is Shaped by How You Play
Players can switch between the two protagonists at almost any time, and they work together throughout much of the campaign. What's new is that the relationship itself is variable — you can influence whether Jason and Lucia remain close friends or become romantically involved.
It builds through small interactions: holding hands, opening doors, staying in contact, spending time together. Pulling off a robbery as a coordinated team strengthens the bond too, which ties the criminal gameplay directly into the personal story.
Notably, Rockstar is not treating this as a stat system. Neither path grants a gameplay advantage. The relationship influences parts of the story, not your damage output — a deliberate departure from the RPG-style relationship metres this kind of feature usually ships with.
Rockstar is also leaning harder on player choice generally. Decisions large and small shape how the story resolves, with an explicit goal of making a second playthrough worthwhile.
Robberies, the Heat System, and Six-Star Wanted Levels
The classic six-star wanted level returns, but a new Heat system layers on top of it, and it fundamentally changes how you escape.
Police now build an identification from crime-scene information: your appearance, your clothing, your vehicle, your location. Simply driving away is no longer automatically sufficient. Counterplay includes:
- Changing clothes or hairstyle
- Ditching the getaway vehicle
- Splitting up from your partner
Robberies themselves are approach-dependent. You can go quiet or go loud, and how far a situation escalates drives the police response. Some missions are even affected by how much money Jason and Lucia currently have. If either protagonist is caught, the familiar "Busted" screen still appears.
Over 170 Animal Species, Including Secret "Legendary" Ones
This is the headline number from the feature. Leonida holds more than 170 animal species — over 60 types of birds, 30-plus land mammals, plus reptiles, sharks, and fish. Confirmed so far: alligators, manatees, flamingos, pelicans, sharks, whales, rays, turtles, jellyfish, iguanas, and macaques.
Rockstar deliberately included non-native, invasive species — monkeys and armadillos amongst them — because that is genuinely what Florida looks like.
There's a tracking layer on top. Animals are classified as Rare, Discoverable, or Legendary, and Rockstar is withholding which creatures are Legendary. If that framing sounds familiar, it's the Red Dead Redemption 2 legendary-animal structure carried into Vice City.
The rendering detail is where it gets unusual. Animals display iridescence, bioluminescence, and translucency. Fur and feathers react to their surroundings — Rockstar describes simulating "dirt matting and clumping in environmental contexts, including getting wet, as well as colour and coat variations," and fur responding to human-to-animal interaction.
Stealing Cars Is Now a Decision, Not a Reflex
Vehicle theft now has real friction. Some cars require specialist tools. Expensive vehicles carry additional security systems and trackers.
A new mobile app called WAiNK reads out a vehicle's details before you commit: its security features, the cost of registering it, and its estimated resale value. Breaking a window and driving off is no longer the whole interaction — you're now asked whether a given car is worth the bother at all.
Ride-Sharing Doubles as Fast Travel
The RydeMe ride-share app functions as fast travel across Leonida, and Rockstar built the ride itself out rather than cutting to a loading screen. You can talk to your driver, listen to radio stations with newly licensed music, and browse in-game social media during the trip.
Jason and Lucia can read social posts but won't make their own — Rockstar's in-fiction reasoning being that posting whilst wanted is a bad idea.
NPCs Got Freckles, Tan Lines, and a Dedicated Writing Team
Rockstar rebuilt the crowd. NPCs vary by height, body type, musculature, and localised body-fat distribution — not just swapped outfits on shared skeletons. Skin carries freckles, moles, and tanning. Hairstyles, tattoos, and grooming are designed to reflect specific people and places.
Clothing responds to location, social situation, weathering, dirt, and fit, drawing from what Rockstar says is its largest range of clothing and accessories yet.
Rockstar also assigned a dedicated team to writing ambient NPC dialogue, so background conversation is specific to its surroundings rather than recycled city-wide.
Every Activity Confirmed in the Story
Game Informer's feature confirms this list of side activities:
| Category | Confirmed activities |
|---|---|
| Water | Scuba diving, kayaking, jet skiing, air boating |
| Motorsport | Street racing, off-road racing, motocross, ATV trails, mud parks, demolition derbies |
| Leisure | Golf, mini golf, billiards, gym workouts, base jumping, mountain biking |
| Destinations | Zoos, farms and ranches |
What Rockstar Still Hasn't Said
Being precise about the gaps matters as much as the confirmations:
- Which animals are Legendary, or how tracking them actually works mechanically.
- How often hurricanes occur and what they do to missions.
- Whether Leonida loads seamlessly end to end with no breaks.
- Any animal count per region, simulation rates, or a full interaction list.
Rockstar confirmed these systems exist. It has not demonstrated their depth, and a screenshot showing a thing is not the same as Rockstar explaining how that thing behaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the GTA 6 map compared to GTA 5?
Rockstar's Aaron Garbut says Leonida is roughly twice the size of Grand Theft Auto 5's map, with greater density, more interactivity, and more interiors than any previous Grand Theft Auto game.
How many animals are in GTA 6?
More than 170 species, including over 60 bird types and 30-plus land mammals, plus reptiles, sharks, and fish. They're sorted into Rare, Discoverable, and Legendary categories, and Rockstar has not revealed which animals are Legendary.
Does GTA 6 have a six-star wanted level?
Yes. The six-star wanted level returns, joined by a new Heat system in which police identify you using your appearance, clothing, vehicle, and location. Changing clothes, ditching your vehicle, and separating from your partner all help you escape.
Can Jason and Lucia become a couple in GTA 6?
Yes. Players influence whether they remain close friends or develop a romantic relationship through small interactions and successful teamwork on robberies. Rockstar has said neither path grants a gameplay advantage — it affects the story only.
What are the six regions of Leonida?
Vice City, Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia, and Mount Kalaga National Park.
Where can I read the Game Informer GTA 6 cover story?
The full 14-page digital issue is free in the Game Informer app on iOS and Android.
