From early details about Rockstar’s Project Rome to fresh leaks after Trailer 2, we’ve learned a lot about GTA 6 over the past few years. With Trailer 3 seemingly right around the corner, now feels like the perfect moment to put everything together in one place.
Table of Contents
This is a no-nonsense, updated guide covering everything we know about GTA 6 so far confirmed facts, major leaks, hidden details, and teased features. It’s all organized into clear sections, so you can easily jump to whatever part interests you most.
GTA 6 Basics: Setting, Story, and Release Date
For anyone just getting into the hype, let’s start with the basics.
GTA 6 is set in Vice City, located in the state of Leonida, and follows the story of two protagonists: Jason and Lucia. This will be the eighth main installment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise.
Rockstar has officially confirmed that GTA 6 is scheduled to release on May 26, 2026, assuming there isn’t another delay. At launch, the game will only be available on PlayStation 5 (including PS5 Pro) and Xbox Series X|S, with a PC release expected sometime in early 2027.
Main Characters in GTA 6
Some characters in GTA 6 are already fairly well-known, while others remain a mystery. Here’s what we currently know.
Jason
Jason is ex-military and lives in the Leonida Keys, working for Brian. His character ability is believed to be similar to Red Dead Redemption 2’s Dead Eye system, although this hasn’t been fully confirmed. He’s widely believed to be portrayed by New York-based actor Dylan Ror.
Lucia
Lucia is GTA’s first female protagonist in a mainline entry. She grew up in Liberty City and is a trained fighter, which explains why we see her in prison during Trailer 1. Many theories suggest her special skill revolves around hacking, based on items found in the 2022 leaks. It’s almost fully confirmed that Lucia is portrayed by actress Manny El Perez, who previously appeared in GTA 5.
Cal Hampton
Cal is the Lester-type character of GTA 6 and a close friend of Jason. He also works with Brian but prefers to stay under the radar. There are theories that either Bobby Moahan or Maddie Mat betrays him, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Brian Heder
Brian is a drug smuggler, loan shark, and implied father figure to Jason. A clear example of their relationship appears in the trailer when Jason says, “See you, Brian. Love you.” Brian is believed to be portrayed by legendary actor Steven Root.
Other Characters and Gangs
Rockstar’s website and leaks have revealed several additional characters:
- Booby Ike – A Vice City music and business legend, possibly portrayed by Johnny Ray Gill
- Daquan Priest – Involved in the music scene, rumored to be played by Reggie Tally
- Real Dimez (Bay Lux & Roxy) – A music duo already seen in trailers
- Raul – A seasoned bank robber, possibly played by Oscar Haneda
There are also characters we only know by name so far, including Downplay, Wyman, Sam, Billy, Zach, Kai, RB Shaw, and Lori, Brian’s third wife.
Leaked gangs include a Haitian gang believed to be returning from Vice City, the Guardia Brothers, and a far-right militia. There’s also an unnamed cop from Trailer 2 who many believe will serve as the main antagonist.
GTA 6 Map Size and Locations
According to the GTA 6 Mapping Project, the map is estimated to be about 2.5 times larger than GTA 5’s map. Insider reports suggest Rockstar may expand the map over time, similar to Cayo Perico in GTA Online.
Confirmed locations include:
- Vice City – The main urban hub
- Grass Rivers – Inspired by the Florida Everglades
- Port Gellhorn – A rough, redneck-style town
- Leonida Keys – Based on the Florida Keys
- Ambrosia – An industrial region
- Mount Kalaga – Likely inspired by a national park in Georgia
Enterable Buildings and Real-World Locations
Leaks suggest a massive increase in enterable interiors, including clubs, supermarkets, pawn shops, apartments, laundromats, and strip clubs. Some leaks even claim 700+ enterable buildings, though this hasn’t been fully confirmed.
Real-world locations spotted include Miami Airport, Lone Depot Park, King of Diamonds nightclub, Solar Amphitheater, and more.
Story Structure and Progression
Rockstar hasn’t revealed much about the story thankfully. What we do know is that GTA 6 may follow a chapter-based structure similar to Red Dead Redemption 2.
A failed score appears to kick off the story and may be the reason Lucia ends up in prison. So far, we’ve seen three versions of Lucia: jail Lucia, ankle-monitor Lucia, and free Lucia.
Items, Weapons, and Gameplay Changes
Compared to GTA 5’s simple snack and armor system, GTA 6 introduces a much deeper item system. Leaked items include:
- Binoculars
- Lock-cracking tools
- Immobilizer bypass
- Trauma kits and painkillers
- Pool cues
- Smoke grenades, spear guns, flashbangs
- USB drives linked to hacking
- Tracker jammers
Food and drinks may also suggest a hunger system, similar to GTA RP.
Major Gameplay Changes
Two big changes stand out:
Car theft will no longer be instant. Tools like slim jims and immobilizer bypasses suggest stealing vehicles will take effort and planning.
Weapon management is also changing. You won’t carry everything at once anymore. Weapons will be stored in duffel bags, backpacks, or car trunks similar to Red Dead Redemption 2.
New Mechanics and Features
Some of the biggest leaked and teased features include:
- Optional mini-map
- NPC witness and recognition system
- Money laundering
- Businesses
- Hacking
- Improved police AI
- Revive system instead of instant death
- Six-star wanted level
- Greet and antagonize
- Carry, rob, or threaten NPCs
Driving also looks more realistic than ever, with better crashes, handling, GPS systems, window controls, and even manual transmission hinted by a visible third pedal.
Activities and World Events
Confirmed and leaked activities include:
Golf, racing, scuba diving, dice games, kayaking, hunting, fishing, basketball, and off-road races.
Leaks also mention 300+ world events, including urban legends like the skunk ape, UFOs, underwater treasures, and strange environmental mysteries.
GTA 6 Online and Project Rome
While details are limited, Rockstar has patented a system for seamless lobby switching across the map. More importantly, Project Rome could completely change GTA Online.
Rome is Rockstar’s new online modding engine, potentially allowing creators to modify environments and add custom content. Rockstar recently confirmed Rome through NoPixel 5.0’s integration with the Rockstar launcher.
The full scope of Project Rome isn’t known yet but the potential is massive.
Final Thoughts
Everything we’ve seen so far suggests that GTA 6 is shaping up to be the most ambitious open-world game Rockstar has ever made. From deeper systems and smarter NPCs to a massive map and next-level immersion, this game could redefine what open-world games can be.
And the wild part? There’s still so much Rockstar hasn’t shown yet.
More updates are coming and when they do, things are only going to get crazier.
Also Read –
GTA 6 Technology Explained: Rockstar Patents That Could Change Gaming Forever
GTA 6 Vehicles Leak: 1000+ Cars, Improved Physics, Realistic Damage & Customization
GTA 6 Wildlife Explained: All New Animals, Hunting, Fishing & Pet Mechanics
