Grand Theft Auto VI is going to give players a lot more of Leonida to explore. Rockstar has confirmed that the game's map is roughly twice the size of GTA V's, while also revealing a much more dynamic weather system that includes tropical storms and hurricanes.
The new details come from Rockstar's latest coverage with Game Informer, which takes a closer look at the world of GTA 6 and how the studio built it.
GTA 6 has Rockstar's biggest map yet
According to Rockstar head of development and co-studio head Aaron Garbut, Leonida is the biggest world the studio has created so far.
The comparison Rockstar gives is pretty straightforward: GTA 6's map is roughly twice the size of GTA 5's.
Leonida is divided into six main regions: Vice City, the Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga National Park. Together, they make up a fictional version of Florida that goes well beyond the streets of Vice City.
How big is the GTA 6 map?
So, how big is the GTA 6 map compared with GTA 5? GTA 5's map is estimated to cover around 76 km², while the GTA 6 map is estimated at roughly 147 km².
That puts GTA 6 at almost twice the size of GTA 5, with much more room for tropical islands, wetlands, rural areas, smaller towns and countryside.
These figures are estimates rather than official measurements from Rockstar. The studio itself has only confirmed that GTA 6 has a map roughly twice the size of GTA 5 and described it as the biggest map Rockstar has ever created, by some degree.
Another interesting detail is the wildlife. Rockstar's latest material points to more than 170 animal species living across Leonida.
The weather can change around you
The size of the map is only part of the story. Rockstar has also rebuilt GTA 6's weather system to make conditions more local and dynamic.
Instead of the entire map suddenly switching from sunny weather to rain, different parts of Leonida can experience different conditions at the same time.
You could be driving through clear skies while a heavy storm is moving across another part of the state. Clouds can develop and move across the world, while rain can continue to affect an area after the storm has passed.
And yes, tropical storms and hurricanes are part of the game.
Rockstar has not yet explained exactly how often these extreme weather events will appear or what they will do to missions and gameplay. The weather itself is confirmed, but its full gameplay impact has not been revealed.
There is a lot more to Leonida than Vice City
One of the more interesting parts of the new information is how much of Leonida exists outside Vice City.
The Leonida Keys bring a chain of tropical islands, while Grassrivers takes players into wetlands. Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga National Park add even more variety to the world.
Rockstar has already shown several of these areas in its latest footage. The GTA 6 Extended Look runs for around 26 minutes and was captured entirely from in-game footage on a PlayStation 5.
What about GTA 6 on PC?
For PC players, there is still plenty to wonder about. Rockstar has confirmed GTA 6 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, but a PC version has not been announced.
We've already looked at when GTA 6 could come to PC, as well as what the GTA 6 PC system requirements might look like if Rockstar eventually brings the game to computers.
A map that is still hiding plenty of secrets
There are already plenty of fan-made GTA 6 maps circulating online, based on trailers, leaks and years of community detective work. They can be fun to look at, but they should not be confused with an official Rockstar map.
Rockstar has not released a complete official map of Leonida. For now, we have to piece together the world from trailers, screenshots and the information Rockstar has revealed.
One thing is already clear: GTA 6 is going to be a much larger world than GTA 5. How all of its regions, weather systems and other world systems come together once players are free to explore Leonida is something Rockstar is still keeping largely under wraps.
Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Want to know more about GTA 6?
We've also taken a closer look at GTA 6 in our own video, the latest information and what Rockstar has shown so far.
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Webmastahhh is the creator of Mastanet, a gaming and technology website where he shares news, reviews, guides and personal insights about games, hardware, software and the future of digital entertainment.
