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GTA VI Leonida Open World Is Rockstar’s Biggest Yet
Just when it seemed Rockstar Games had already revealed plenty about GTA VI, another wave of details has given us an even clearer idea of what’s being packed into Leonida.
Rockstar’s latest information comes from Game Informer’s extensive new cover story, with fresh details on the map’s size and density, weather systems, wildlife, vehicle theft, and a surprisingly long list of things Jason and Lucia can do when they are not busy committing crimes.
It builds directly on what we learned during the GTA VI Extended Look, which already established that Rockstar was putting considerably more emphasis on making Leonida react to what players do. This time, we have a much better sense of the scale involved.
Leonida Is Roughly Twice the Size of GTA V’s Map
Rockstar North co-studio head Aaron Garbut reportedly describes Leonida as the biggest open world Rockstar has built, measuring roughly twice the size of GTA V’s map while also increasing environmental density.
That includes more explorable interiors, along with greater detail across rooftops, alleys, and other spaces players might otherwise simply drive past. Leonida itself is divided into six major regions: Vice City, Leonida Keys, Port Gellhorn, Grassrivers, Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga National Park.
The GTA VI campaign is designed to move Jason and Lucia across those different parts of the state, with environments and local groups changing along the way. Ambrosia, for example, reportedly has a biker gang with significant control over the area.
Hurricanes Can Tear Across Different Parts of Leonida
Weather is getting a substantial overhaul too. Conditions can now be localised, meaning players could potentially encounter sunshine in one part of Leonida while another is being hammered by rain and thunderstorms.
Wind affects smaller environmental details as well, moving debris, grass, hair and water, while rain can accumulate into puddles and run across surfaces. Rockstar has even confirmed tropical storms and hurricanes, although it has yet to explain how often they occur or whether they play a role in specific missions.
It adds another layer to the everyday simulation Rockstar is building in GTA VI, alongside previously revealed systems such as Jason and Lucia actually needing proper sleep.
Mini Golf, Zoos and Plenty More Fill the Map
Rockstar is also filling all that space with considerably more than story missions. Previously shown activities such as kayaking, scuba diving, jet skiing, base jumping and racing are joined by billiards, mini golf, air boating and visiting zoos. Gyms return as well, tying into the weight and muscle systems already shown during the Extended Look.
Taxi fast travel returns in GTA VI, but a new ride-sharing system also appears. Players can travel with NPC drivers and potentially trigger optional conversations along the way, turning what might otherwise be a skipped journey into another opportunity for world-building.
Stealing Expensive Cars Will Take More Work
Car theft is getting another layer of complexity too. Some vehicles can now feature trackers and electronic locks, meaning simply smashing a window may not be enough to drive away with something expensive.
An in-game app called WAiNK can provide information on a stolen vehicle, including its potential resale value and how much it would cost to keep it as a personal car. Players can then decide whether it is worth selling or adding to their collection.
Rockstar is also promising its largest selection of clothing and accessories to date in GTA VI, which should matter considerably more now that appearance can affect how law enforcement identifies Jason and Lucia.
More Than 170 Animal Species Live Across Leonida
Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 influence becomes especially obvious once wildlife enters the picture. Leonida reportedly contains more than 170 animal species, including over 60 birds and 30 land mammals alongside fish, reptiles and marine life such as sharks, whales, rays, turtles and jellyfish.
Animals also receive much more detailed visual treatment, with fur that can become wet, dirty, or matted depending on the environment. Rockstar has additionally teased tracking and hunting systems alongside rarer animal variants, although the full extent of those mechanics has yet to be detailed.
It all reinforces something that has become increasingly clear as Rockstar reveals more of GTA VI: sheer map size is not really the point. The more interesting ambition is how much can actually happen within that space, whether that means getting caught in a hurricane, finding an animal you have never seen before, struggling to steal a heavily secured car or abandoning whatever criminal plan you had because Jason and Lucia decided mini golf sounded more appealing.
GTA VI launches on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar has not yet announced a PC version.
