GTA VI: Everything We Know Before Launch
The highly anticipated release of GTA VI is less than a month away. So there’s no better time to go over everything we know about the game before Jason and Lucia arrive at Leonida this November.
GTA VI Release Date
GTA VI launches on November 19th for both Xbox Series X & S, as well as Playstation 5. The game will unlock at midnight in your local time zone, meaning that certain regions will have access before others. For players trying to avoid spoilers or if you live in an area that will receive the title before midnight, make sure to check out our release date article for more information about GTA VI’s release schedule.
Different GTA VI Editions
GTA VI is coming in different versions, as well as a limited time collectors edition. The difference between all three editions is massive, but before we dive into that, you should know about the preorder bonuses.
If you preorder either edition, you’ll receive the Vintage Vice City Pack. It includes the ’55 Vapid Stanier Sedan and Garage, plus various outfits and hairstyles, plus an exclusive weapon pattern. On top of that, if you preorder through either the Microsoft or Playstation stores, you’ll earn a free month of GTA+.
When it comes to the Standard and Ultimate editions. Purchasing the Standard edition of GTA VI for $80 gets you a copy of the game, any preorder bonuses, and nothing else. However, the more expensive $100 Ultimate edition brings much more to the table, including:
- Exclusive vehicles: Grotti Cheetah, Vapid Dominator Buggy, Dinka Enduro, Crest Kayak, Shitzu Squalo, and Ganado Retro Build.
- Exclusive weapons: Hawk & Little Morgan Revolvers and personalized pistol variants.
- Special locations: Rideout Customs, Sara’s Unisex Salon, Stock 305, Electric Fang Tattoo Parlor, One-Eyed Willie’s, and Paradise Garage.
- Exclusive cosmetics: Vice City Styles outfits, Goodtime Gear clothing, hairstyles, tattoos, and customization options.
- Extra activities: PTT Youngin$ Compound raids and the Classic Car Collection.
The limited edition collectors box is a different beast entirely. The $400 collectors item comes packed with real-life items, memorabilia, and other goodies, but does not include a copy of the game. A true collectors item for those interested.
The GTA VI Map
GTA VI is set in the fictional US State, Leonida. Heavily based on Florida, Leonida is divided into six key regions:
- Vice City.
- The Leonida Keys.
- Port Gellhorn.
- Ambrosia.
- Mount Kalaga National Park.
In an interview last month, Rockstar’s senior vice president of narrative Rupert Humphries explained how “part of the job of the game’s story is to bring the player around the map in a way that feels authentic and interesting.” Rockstar views this authenticity as one of the most important driving factors behind the creation of Leonida. “We don’t have time to take you everywhere,” said Humphries, “but we want you to be able to explore and get a feel for most of the places, cultures, and vibes.”
This authenticity doesn’t stop at map design, however, as the weather systems of Leonida have become a large point of interest for the studio. The vice president of art for lighting and rendering, Owen Shepherd, spoke about how the skies of GTA VI will behave during gameplay.
“We have re-engineered our weather system to make everything much more localized and persistent,” Shepherd explained, before going on to detail how during storms “heavy clouds, strong winds, dense atmospherics, and a lot of rain combine so that everything is dripping wet, water is gushing off roof edges and lampposts, thunder rumbles and flashes of lightning light up the clouds dramatically.”
GTA VI Wanted System
In a change to one of the most iconic features in the GTA series, it looks like for GTA VI the wanted system has been massively overhauled.
In previous GTA games, committing a crime immediately resulted in a wanted level because the game instantly recognized that a crime had been committed. If you robbed a bank and killed some civilians, the game knew about it directly, and Police cars just started chasing you. All you had to do next was drive fast and long enough until they went away. GTA VI is taking a more realistic approach.
Crucially, a crime now has to be “detected” before the police respond. That can happen because an NPC saw what you did, or because an alarm alerts the authorities. Therefore, if you manage to rob or steal with no witnesses or alerts, the authorities will not be looking for you.
In addition, once police are called, they don’t simply spawn around the player. Instead, officers receive information about the incident and investigate an area near the crime. Even after you leave, that location can remain a “hot area,” with police continuing to search for suspects until things cool down.
Jason and Lucia’s appearance will play a much larger factor in GTA VI’s wanted system as well. Police can have information about what Jason or Lucia looks like, and the game can display separate indicators beneath your wanted level showing what information the police have about the suspect.
For example, changing your hairstyle can remove the appearance identification, because you have physically changed how you look. Police can also identify your clothing, and if that happens your entire outfit will need to change. You can keep a change of clothes in your vehicle, get away from the crime scene, and then change into something completely different to make it harder for police to match you to their description.
GTA VI Radio
Coming with GTA VI at launch will be six new radio stations for players to listen to while playing. Featuring a wide variety of music and genre’s the different stations are:
- Cocoteo FM – “Cocoteo FM is Leonida’s home for the best of modern Latin music. Hosted by El Martillo and La Gata and featuring everything from bachata and merengue to dembow and reggaeton” as described by Rockstar.
- Back Country Radio – Features renegade country music, as well as reporting from their swamp meteorologist Mud Dog Mike.
- AfroBank FM – Hosted by Burna and Palmsy, AfroBank brings the best African music to Leonida. Featuring 20th century classics and undiscovered gems.
- The Chamber 106.6 – “Crushing metal has landed in Leonida. Jump in the pit with DJ Kerry and DJ Tom for decades of timeless metal anthems as they channel Leonida’s deep metal roots.”
- Flash FM – Hosted by Robyn and Alex, Flash FM brings the hottest pop music to the Goodtime State.
- Dirty South Classics – Trick and Trina specialize in southern hospitality, showcasing rap and hip-hop classics.
These radio stations can be listened to anywhere in Leonida, either in a vehicle or now, on foot. Rockstar has given both Jason and Lucia headphones and earbuds that connect to their smartphones, giving easy access to the music anywhere on the map. Alongside radio, a new listening service is arriving as well. Podcasts are landing in GTA VI. A selection of on demand podcasts will also be available for listening to.
In addition to these announcements, Rockstar has also updated their GTA VI Music webpage, which now features previews of all six radio stations.
GTA VI PC Release
At the time of writing, a PC port of GTA VI has not been officially announced. However, there are significant rumors that it could be arriving sooner than expected.
In an interview Gamesbeat held with four anonymous sources, GTA VI is supposedly hitting PC just a few months after its console launch.
If these reports are true, neither Rockstar nor its parent company, Take-Two, have made any comments yet. Initially many fans anticipated that the eventual PC release would take at most upwards of a year, if not longer. Based on how long it took GTA V to release on PC. If this is not the case, then early 2027 could see a huge influx of new players, as well as the creation of a variety of mods for GTA VI.
GTA VI Online
An online mode for GTA VI is another area that Rockstar have remained suspiciously quiet on. Rockstar has yet to reveal when the game’s multiplayer mode will arrive, or what that said multiplayer mode will look like.
One of the major reasons for this is the high security Rockstar requires its employees to abide by while working on GTA VI. Meaning that little to none credible leaks have arrived about the multiplayer mode.
Details have emerged from the employee tribunal in Edinburgh about the lengths Rockstar are willing to take. This includes all visitors signing an NDA, prohibited photography, and contracted workers being escorted by security. Personal devices, including phones and laptops, also cannot connect to Rockstar’s internal systems.
It looks like Rockstar is taking any leaks very seriously, and with the heightened security as we get closer to launch, its no wonder why so little has emerged about any GTA VI online mode.
GTA VI Leaks
Speaking of leaks, earlier this year a user known as Cyberleek began uploading images and videos containing unreleased and unknown GTA VI information. This primarily contained, raw, unedited gameplay and story moments in the build up to the August showcase, but the leaks slowed significantly after the Netflix special aired.
It appears that Cyberleek has started to post again as the launch gets closer. With them posting an almost 25 minute long video of gameplay, featuring Jason walking around in the nude, as well as several vehicle races.
Despite Rockstar expressing their sadness and frustration at the extent of the leaks, they have doubled down on their commitment to the November 19th release date.
A Landmark Title
All together, GTA VI is shaping up to being one of the most anticipated and significant launches of the decade. With more development time and effort put in than any recent Rockstar title in memory. The title release next month on November 19th, and we couldn’t be more excited.
For more information about GTA VI, check out our latest news!