GTA 6: What We Know Up to Now

This is it: Grand Theft Auto 6 is officially set to launch this year. Initially expected in 2025, the game has faced two delays, making it the most anticipated title of the decade.

In this installment, players will step into the shoes of a Bonnie and Clyde-inspired duo, Lucia and Jason, as they explore the coastal neighborhood of Leonidas in Vice City. Although we have to wait until November for the release, this gives fans more time to dive into the existing trailers, unravel some lingering mysteries from GTA 5, and even piece together the GTA 6 map—or, in one player’s case, mod it into GTA 5—before the open-world adventure kicks off.

The buzz around GTA 6 is so intense that even the CEO of Take-Two has expressed amazement at the hype. While we haven’t received major updates since the second trailer dropped in mid-2025, there’s still a wealth of details to dissect.

It’s been over ten years since GTA 5 launched, and while GTA Online continues to thrive with a dedicated player base, the excitement for what Rockstar has in store next is palpable. Here’s your comprehensive guide to GTA 6 as of January 2026, packed with all the essential info to gear up for November.

GTA 6 is officially set to release on November 19, 2026.

Rockstar announced this release date in November 2025, pushing it back from the previously scheduled May 2026. This new date is a significant shift from the anticipated Fall 2025 window mentioned in a financial report back in May 2024.

In their announcement, Rockstar stated, “We apologize for the extended wait, but these additional months will allow us to polish the game to the high standards you expect and deserve.”

While this delay means a longer wait to jump into Rockstar’s open-world experience, at least we now have a specific date to look forward to instead of a vague launch window.

The first GTA 6 reveal trailer met all our expectations. Although Rockstar initially planned to release it on December 5, 2024, a leak prompted an earlier reveal last year.

In the trailer, we got our first glimpse of Vice City and the new protagonists leading the charge in this next chapter of open-world action. For a detailed breakdown, be sure to check out our trailer analysis.

The second trailer offers another look at Leonidas, hinting at the story that awaits. As Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval seek a fresh start in the city, we see Jason springing Lucia from prison, followed by a series of action-packed moments that echo the Bonnie and Clyde theme.

The trailer’s description hints that “the deck is stacked against them when an easy score goes wrong,” leading them into “the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, entangled in a conspiracy” that spans the state. It sounds like they’ll face some perilous situations that will test their bond.

While we await more teasers, there are plenty of games like GTA to keep you entertained in the meantime.

So far, it’s confirmed that GTA 6 will launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2026.

This information came from an official announcement stating, “GTA 6 is coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.” With the PS5 Pro now available, it remains to be seen if GTA 6 will be among the enhanced titles for that console.

A tech expert has suggested that it may not run at 60fps on the PS5, even if it boasts “higher quality visuals,” but we’ll have to wait for confirmation.

As for a PC version, it seems unlikely at this stage, but we’ll keep an eye out for updates.

Currently, GTA 6 is only confirmed for PS5 and Xbox Series X, with no plans for PS4 or Xbox One at launch, making it a current-gen exclusive.

There’s no mention of a PC release, which suggests it might follow the trend of previous GTA titles that launched on consoles first before making their way to PC later. It’s likely that PC players will have to wait beyond the 2026 release to enjoy the game on their platform.

A former developer indicated that GTA 6 on PC will take time, with the PS5 version prioritized as Rockstar focuses on “what sells.”

Another former developer echoed this sentiment, stating that the PC launch could be a long way off. We’ll keep you posted on any changes, but for now, PC gamers can revisit the major GTA titles while waiting for the new release.

After the second trailer, Rockstar provided a detailed overview of key characters we’ll encounter in Leonidas on their official site. We learned more about the dual protagonists, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, who were first introduced in the initial trailer. Lucia, having grown up in Liberty City, dreams of a better life in Leonidas.

Fresh out of prison (as seen in the second trailer), Lucia views her relationship with Jason as a “way out,” while Jason has a background steeped in grifting and drug running. As they navigate life together in the city, their reliance on each other will deepen. Their dynamic certainly evokes a Bonnie and Clyde vibe, emphasizing trust as they delve into crime.

We’ve also been introduced to a cast of supporting characters who will play significant roles in Lucia and Jason’s escapades in the Keys. Below is a list of the other GTA 6 characters we know about so far.

Rockstar has shared some story details that hint at the journey we can expect in this open-world adventure. With Jason and Lucia at the center, the official site notes that they “have always known the deck is stacked against them,” and “when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America.”

Caught in a “criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida,” it seems the duo will need to work together to survive. Expect some high-stakes scenarios ahead.

GTA 6 is returning to Vice City. While the original game was set in 1986, this new release is set in a modern-day context. Rockstar has revealed that we’ll explore the state of Leonida, home to the vibrant streets of Vice City and beyond. Promised to be the “biggest, most immersive evolution of Grand Theft Auto yet,” Vice City will be part of a larger map in GTA 6.

The trailers have already showcased a visually stunning Vice City, with a chaotic take on rural Florida, featuring familiar locations like Starfish Island. Fans quickly compared the visuals to the original Vice City, highlighting the impressive detail in this updated rendition.

Following the second trailer, Rockstar also released 85 new screenshots that reveal various locations within the game’s open world. These postcard-like images confirm the names of different areas, along with in-game screenshots.

We get a closer look at an updated Vice City, the touristy Leonida Keys, the wilderness of Mount Kalaga National Park, Port Gellhorn with its budget motels and strip clubs, the rural and industrial Ambrosia home to a biker gang, and the swampy landscapes of Grassrivers.

The first announcement of GTA 6 came in February 2022, when Rockstar quietly confirmed that the game was “well underway” as part of a broader community update for GTA 5 and GTA Online. They expressed gratitude for the support and excitement for the future.

In August 2022, Take-Two Interactive reiterated that GTA 6 development was “well underway” in their financial report. Take-Two’s CEO made bold claims about what GTA 6 will achieve, stating that the Rockstar team aims to set new creative benchmarks for the series and the industry.

While the confirmed release date is the biggest news, the second trailer has also shed light on the characters we’ll meet. Following the trailer, the CEO stated, “Rockstar Games is trying to create the best thing anyone’s ever seen in entertainment,” which is quite a statement.

We’ve also seen Rockstar employees teasing features, alongside a significant leak—details of which can be found in the leak section below—and responses to that leak. Below, you’ll find a summary of the latest GTA 6 news.

Speculation about GTA 6’s price tag has been rampant. While Take-Two and Rockstar haven’t confirmed the cost, analysts are predicting a hefty $100 price point due to the high development costs.

A former Rockstar developer has suggested that GTA 6 will likely be the most expensive game ever. Recently, a Take-Two executive avoided confirming the price by stating, “we’ve had variable pricing at the company forever.”

With many new games priced at $80, speculation suggests GTA 6 may follow suit, but it’s wise to take these predictions with caution for now. With a 2026 release date, it may be a while before pre-orders are available and pricing is confirmed, but we’ll keep you updated.

On September 18, 2022, an unprecedented leak revealed numerous videos and screenshots from an alleged in-development version of GTA 6. Rockstar quickly confirmed the hack, stating, “We recently suffered a network intrusion in which an unauthorized third party illegally accessed and downloaded confidential information from our systems, including early development footage for the next Grand Theft Auto.”

“We are extremely disappointed to have any details of our next game shared with you all in this way,” the statement continued. “We will update everyone again soon and, of course, will properly introduce you to this next game when it’s ready. We want to thank everyone for their ongoing support through this situation.”

Within 48 hours of the leak, the GTA Forums worked to remove all traces of the illegally obtained content to avoid repercussions from Rockstar. The dedicated GTA subreddit also took down all links, images, and videos related to the leak, allowing discussions without sharing the leaked content.

Since then, Rockstar and Take-Two have addressed the leaks. In a recent earnings call, Take-Two’s CEO described the leak as “terribly unfortunate,” adding that they take such incidents very seriously.

“There’s no evidence that any material assets were taken, which is a good thing, and certainly, the leak won’t have any influence on development or anything of the sort. But it is terribly disappointing and causes us to be ever more vigilant on matters relating to cybersecurity.”

The latest update reveals that the teenager accused of the massive GTA 6 leak has been deemed psychiatrically unfit for trial. Reports indicate that 18-year-old Arion Kurtaj, a member of the Lapsus$ hacking group, has been assessed as unfit to stand trial.

Interestingly, one leaked screenshot has survived Rockstar’s copyright claims, making it the only remnant of the extensive takedown efforts.

The delay of GTA 6 has officially pushed the open-world adventure into 2026, with Rockstar confirming it will no longer meet the initial Fall 2025 launch window.

Rumors of a delay had circulated for some time before the official announcement, fueled by speculation following the vague 2025 window revealed in 2024. Concerns grew when Rockstar shifted all employees back to full-time in-office work, which some developers worried could impact the sequel’s development.

In the wake of the leak, there was also speculation about how the intrusion would affect ongoing development. Rockstar later confirmed that the hack would not impact GTA 6 production or the security of GTA 5 and GTA Online.

A report suggested that GTA 6 might be pushed to 2026, and a former developer indicated that the game would sell for “10+ years” due to a lack of competition, meaning Rockstar wouldn’t release it until they were completely satisfied.

When the delay was officially confirmed, Rockstar cited the need for more time to deliver the experience players expect: “With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”

While the final map for GTA 6 has yet to be revealed, leaked footage and screenshots suggest a play area that extends beyond Vice City.

Similar to how Rockstar expanded Los Santos between Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and GTA 5, some leaked images hint at new areas within Vice City. Given that Vice City is loosely based on Miami, there’s speculation that GTA 6 will venture further south toward the Everglades and the Florida Keys.

The “Gator Keys” were mentioned in the original GTA: Vice City through a radio broadcast, but the location was never shown in-game. If the leaked images are accurate, expect a diverse range of environments in the GTA 6 map.

Fans are convinced that the GTA 6 map will be significantly larger than that of GTA 5. Using leaked coordinates, fans on the GTA 6 subreddit are attempting to map out the game world, even stitching together their interpretations using Google Earth and Paint. One YouTuber has even modded their version of the GTA 6 map into GTA 5 based on the trailers.

As we await an official gameplay trailer, it’s tough to say how GTA 6 will innovate on its predecessor. However, early development footage suggests that Rockstar is exploring new mechanics.

For instance, it appears that stealth mechanics are being introduced, with footage showing characters crawling and carrying bodies.

We also know that the weapon wheel, revamped for GTA 5, will return in some form, and leaked footage hints at new health items like painkillers. The classic Five Star ‘Wanted’ system is back, with improved AI routines for the VCPD tracking Jason and Lucia once they’re on their radar.

While we wait for GTA 6, consider diving into some of the best Rockstar games or exploring top RPG titles. Alternatively, you can create chaos with handy cheats in GTA 5.