GTA 6 in Game Informer: Map Twice the Size of GTA 5, 170 Animals, Hurricanes

Game Informer published the largest feature ever written about GTA 6 on September 29, 2026: a 14-page cover story with 12 brand-new screenshots and details Rockstar had never confirmed. One number sums it up: the state of Leonida is twice the size of GTA 5’s map. Seven weeks out from the November 19, 2026 release, it is the fullest picture of the game so far.

Quick answer: what did Game Informer reveal?

That Leonida’s map is roughly twice the size of GTA 5’s, with dynamic weather that includes hurricanes and localized storms, more than 170 animal species with their own behaviors, and side activities such as scuba diving, base jumping, kayaking, mini golf, jet skiing and zoos. The story also carried 12 new screenshots and fresh detail on the dual protagonists, Jason and Lucia.

The map: Leonida by the numbers

Leonida is Rockstar’s take on Florida, with Vice City as the urban core and five surrounding regions — Everglades-style wetlands, the Keys, a rural interior, a stretch of beaches and the port industrial district. Game Informer describes crossing it end to end as something you plan for: cars, boats and planes each serve a different role.

Element	GTA 5 (2013)	GTA 6 (2026)
Setting	San Andreas (Los Santos + countryside)	Leonida (Vice City + 5 regions)
Map size	Baseline	About 2x larger
Protagonists	3 (Michael, Franklin, Trevor)	2 (Jason and Lucia)
Animal species	Dozens	More than 170
Weather	Rain and fog	Hurricanes and localized storms
Release	September 17, 2013	November 19, 2026

Dynamic weather: hurricanes that change the mission

The most discussed part of the story is the weather system. Instead of rain blanketing the whole map, GTA 6 simulates localized storms: it can be pouring in the Keys while Vice City stays sunny. Hurricanes show up as larger-scale events, with flooded streets, flying debris and altered traffic — and they affect driving, boating and flying.

Wildlife and side activities

The 170+ animal species are not decoration: alligators in the wetlands, seabirds, fish and sharks while diving, animals in zoos. The activity list confirmed by the magazine includes scuba diving, base jumping, kayaking, mini golf, jet skiing and zoo visits — the deepest set of pastimes in a GTA since San Andreas.

Jason and Lucia

The feature stresses that the duo works differently from GTA 5’s trio: switching between them is tied more closely to the narrative, and there are missions where they act together. Rockstar describes their relationship as the emotional spine of the game, drawing on cinema’s great couples on the run.

Why this matters

Two practical signals. First: a map twice as large, with simulated weather and hundreds of creatures, explains why Rockstar held the game until November and why Sony shipped QSSR for the base PS5 on October 1 — performance will be the launch story. Second: if you play on a base console, start clearing storage and check whether your internal SSD has room; Rockstar has not announced pricing, but the industry’s $69.99 standard is the safe assumption for the digital edition.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the GTA 6 map?

According to Game Informer, roughly twice the size of GTA 5’s map, covering the fictional state of Leonida with Vice City and five more regions.

Does GTA 6 have dynamic weather?

Yes. The game simulates localized storms and hurricanes that change visibility, traffic, driving and navigation in specific parts of the map.

How many animals are in GTA 6?

More than 170 species with their own behaviors, including alligators in the wetlands, seabirds and marine life visible while diving.

When does GTA 6 come out?

On November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. No PC date has been announced.

At DigitalRadar, we track every GTA 6 reveal until launch. Stay on the radar.