Game Informer’s GTA 6 cover story (issue 382, published online on 29 September 2026) is the most detailed look yet at how Leonida actually feels to live in. It runs to 14 pages with 12 new screenshots. The cover shows Jason and Lucia cruising the Vice City waterfront in a pink convertible. The headline material isn’t the story or the heists, though. It’s the weather, the wildlife and what you can do when you’re not committing crimes.
Weather: hurricanes are real, and they stay put
Rockstar has confirmed that Leonida gets hurricanes and tropical storms, a first for the series. Designer Shepherd describes storms as having “heavy clouds, strong winds, dense atmospherics, and a lot of rain.”
Two things in the article stand out:
- Localised, persistent weather. Weather isn’t one global switch. It can be storming over the Grassrivers while Vice City stays dry, and systems persist and move instead of flicking on and off.
- A new wind system. Wind physically affects hair, clothing, loose debris, water surfaces and the long swamp grass. That’s the kind of detail you’ll notice every time you drive through the Everglades-style wetlands.
Game Informer didn’t confirm whether storms change mission availability or traffic behaviour, so treat those as open questions until Rockstar says more.
Wildlife: more than 170 species
This is the biggest number in the piece. Leonida has over 170 animal species, compared with a few dozen in Red Dead Redemption 2’s world for land animals alone in any one region.
| Group | What Game Informer confirms |
|---|---|
| Birds | 60+ species, including flamingos and pelicans |
| Land mammals | 30+ species |
| Marine life | Fish and manatees |
| Reptiles | Alligators and more |
| Invasive species | Green iguanas, cane toads, feral cats, rhesus macaques |
| Rare animals | Rare and “legendary” animals hinted at, details not given |
The invasive species are a nice touch. All four are real problems in Florida, which Leonida is based on. Rhesus macaques really do live wild along Florida’s Silver River.
Activities: what you can do between missions
Game Informer lists a long set of side activities:
- Base jumping
- Billiards
- Gym workouts
- Kayaking
- Mini golf
- Scuba diving
- Street racing and off-road racing
- Zoo visits
- Airboating
- Jet skiing
- Hiking (including as a date activity)
Scuba diving and airboating fit the setting: the Keys and the swamps would be wasted without them. Hiking dates suggest the relationship systems from GTA San Andreas and GTA 4 are back in some form.
The map: “a cohesive whole”
Rockstar’s Garbut tells Game Informer the map is the studio’s largest “by some degree” and roughly twice the size of GTA 5’s. He calls it “a cohesive whole” rather than separate zones stitched together. Locations named in the piece include Vice City, the Keys, the Grassrivers and the surrounding swamps. For the full region-by-region picture, see our GTA 6 map guide.
How this compares with the Edge feature
Edge’s earlier cover story focused on characters, animation and Rockstar’s design philosophy. Game Informer’s piece is more about the world simulation. Read together, they cover most of what Rockstar has said publicly so far. Our Edge magazine GTA 6 breakdown has the other half.
FAQ
Does GTA 6 have hurricanes?
Yes. Game Informer confirms hurricanes and tropical storms with heavy cloud, strong wind and heavy rain.
How many animals are in GTA 6?
More than 170 species, including 60+ birds and 30+ land mammals, plus fish and reptiles.
Can you go scuba diving in GTA 6?
Yes, scuba diving is on Game Informer’s list of activities, alongside kayaking, jet skiing and airboating.
How big is the GTA 6 map?
About twice the size of GTA 5’s, according to Rockstar’s Garbut, and the studio’s largest map.
Which Game Informer issue has GTA 6?
Issue 382, with Jason and Lucia on the cover. The feature went live online on 29 September 2026.
More GTA 6 coverage: GTA 6 characters · GTA 6 vs GTA 5 · GTA 6 facts vs leaks
Sources: Game Informer issue 382 cover story and online feature (29 September 2026); Rockstar Games official materials. Details are from pre-release coverage and may change before launch.
