Source: Rockstar Games via Game Informer
What this means
- Twice the map plus denser interiors means fewer empty stretches — Leonida is built to be explored on foot, not just driven through.
- Localized weather changes how streets look and feel hour by hour — storms could become gameplay events, not just ambience.
- 170+ species with rare and legendary categories points to a full hunting/tracking side loop, a first for the series at this scale.
Key facts
- When: September 29, 2026 — Game Informer cover story (free in the Game Informer app)
- Source: Rockstar Games, via Game Informer developer interviews
- What's new: map scale (~2x GTA V), six regions, hurricanes, 170+ animal species, RydeMe fast travel
Rockstar Games has pulled back the curtain on Grand Theft Auto 6's world through a 14-page Game Informer cover story — the most concrete look at the state of Leonida so far. The feature, free in the Game Informer app, includes developer interviews and 12 exclusive new screenshots.
Source: Rockstar Games via Game Informer
The headline figure: Leonida is roughly twice the size of GTA 5's map, making it the biggest map Rockstar has ever built. Rockstar's Aaron Garbut told the magazine the world is also denser, more detailed, and more interactive, with far more enterable interiors. The map is organized into six primary regions: Vice City, the Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia, and Mount Kalaga National Park.
Weather gets a full overhaul. Rockstar re-engineered its system to be localized and persistent — it can be sunny in one part of Leonida while raining in another. Tropical storms and hurricanes are confirmed, alongside dynamic cloudscapes, rainbows, and an updated wind system. Rockstar has not said how often major storms strike or whether they affect missions.
Source: Rockstar Games via Game Informer
Wildlife is massive too: more than 170 animal species, including over 60 bird types and more than 30 land mammals. Manatees, flamingos, pelicans, alligators, feral cats, and armadillos are named, with rare and legendary categories promised. Side activities span base jumping, kayaking, scuba diving, street racing, bass fishing, golf, and motocross. A ride-hailing service called RydeMe doubles as fast travel, letting players ride as passengers and use in-car activities like radio and social media.
Sources
- GTAIntel — GTA 6 Game Informer Cover Story: new details (September 2026)
- Pure Xbox — Five key things we learned from the Game Informer cover story (September 29, 2026)
- NeoTeo — Game Informer's 14-page GTA VI story (September 29, 2026)
Details reported by multiple outlets from Game Informer's September 29, 2026 cover story, based on Rockstar developer interviews. The full feature is free in the Game Informer app.
