Quick answer: GTA VI is a big step up from GTA V. The map is about twice as large, Vice City is about twice the size of Los Santos, and Leonida has 170+ animal species, hurricanes and local weather. There are more building interiors than any previous GTA, plus a modern in-game phone with social media and ride-hailing. Instead of three protagonists, there is one couple: Jason and Lucia. Here are 15 changes confirmed through Rockstar’s official material and its Game Informer cover story.
GTA VI vs GTA V at a glance
| GTA V (2013) | GTA VI (2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | San Andreas (Los Santos) | Leonida (Vice City) |
| Real-world inspiration | Southern California | Florida |
| Protagonists | Michael, Franklin, Trevor | Jason and Lucia |
| Map size | Baseline | About 2x GTA V |
| Main city | Los Santos | Vice City, about 2x Los Santos |
| Platforms at launch | PS3, Xbox 360 | PS5, Xbox Series X|S only |
| Weather | Region-wide | Localised weather, hurricanes and tropical storms |
| Wildlife | Limited | 170+ species |
15 confirmed changes
World
- Bigger map: about twice GTA V’s size, split into six regions.
- Bigger, denser city: Vice City is about twice the size of Los Santos.
- Much bigger towns: towns outside the city are 11 times the size of GTA V’s small towns.
- More interiors: Rockstar says more enterable buildings than any GTA before, with detail in rooftops and alleys too.
- Forests and wild areas: tree-covered country, mountain biking and off-road trails.
Weather and nature
- Hurricanes and tropical storms with heavy rain, strong wind and lightning.
- Localised weather: it can rain in one region while it’s sunny in another.
- Wind effects that move debris, water and swamp grass.
- 170+ animal species, including manatees, flamingos, alligators, sharks, whales and rays, each with their own movement. Animal fur can get wet, dirty or matted.
Story and characters
- Two protagonists who are a couple, instead of three separate characters.
- Relationships matter: friendships and relationships don’t give gameplay bonuses, but can affect the story.
Modern life in the game
- Social media on your phone: Jason and Lucia can scroll in-game feeds.
- Ride-hailing: book taxis and rides through an Uber-style app, and chat with passengers as a driver.
- Smarter car theft: some vehicles have trackers or need special tools; cars can be registered through an in-game app called WAink.
Activities
- More things to do: fishing, scuba diving, kayaking, jet skis, airboats, base jumping, mini golf, billiards, gyms, zoos, street and off-road racing, destruction derby, ATVs and dirt bikes.
What GTA V still does that GTA VI hasn’t confirmed
- PC at launch: GTA V eventually reached PC, and GTA VI has no PC version announced yet.
- Three-character switching: GTA VI has two leads; how switching works hasn’t been fully detailed.
- GTA Online details: Rockstar hasn’t fully explained how online mode will work at launch.
A note on map size: some sites claim Leonida is “five times” bigger than GTA V. Rockstar’s own developer said about twice, so we’ve gone with that.
Explore the regions in our Leonida vs real Florida guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much bigger is GTA 6 than GTA 5?
Rockstar says the map is about twice as big, and Vice City is about twice the size of Los Santos.
How many main characters are in GTA 6?
Two: Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos.
Does GTA 6 have weather like hurricanes?
Yes. Rockstar confirmed hurricanes, tropical storms and localised weather.
Will GTA 6 be on PS4 like GTA 5 was?
No. GTA VI is only for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Sources: Game Informer cover story (via VICE and GAMINGbible); Rockstar North interviews; Rockstar trailers. Features as described before launch and may change.
