A new Game Informer cover story has revealed a wealth of fresh details about GTA 6, including new side activities, an enormous map, an advanced dynamic weather system and more than 170 animal species roaming across Leonida.
With Grand Theft Auto VI currently scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, Rockstar Games has shared one of the most detailed looks yet at the world players will eventually explore.
Game Informer's extensive cover story focuses heavily on Leonida and Rockstar's efforts to create a living, believable interpretation of Florida, revealing new information about activities, wildlife, weather and the overall scale of the map.
Among the side activities mentioned in the report are several ways players will be able to spend their time away from the main story. Alongside activities previously shown or discussed, including fishing, diving and wrestling, the game is expected to feature a wide range of additional activities throughout Leonida.
Rockstar has confirmed that GTA 6 will feature more than 170 animal species across land, air and water, making Leonida one of the most diverse ecosystems the studio has ever created.
The wildlife roster includes animals that have rarely or never appeared in previous Rockstar titles, including flamingos, manatees, pelicans, green iguanas, cane toads, monkeys and, naturally, alligators.
Rockstar is building on technology developed for the Red Dead Redemption series, with animals featuring more advanced fur, feathers and visual effects such as iridescence, translucency and bioluminescence. Certain animals will also be categorized as Rare, Discoverable and Legendary, giving players another reason to explore the wilderness.
Leonida will feature dynamic cloud formations and localized weather, meaning players could stand under clear skies while watching a storm unfold in the distance. Wet surfaces and puddles can remain after rainfall, while rainbows may appear when the conditions are right.
More extreme weather will also be part of the game. Rockstar has confirmed that GTA 6 includes tropical storms and hurricanes, although the studio has not yet explained how frequently they will occur or how much they will affect gameplay and the story.
According to details shared through Game Informer's cover story, Leonida is approximately twice the size of GTA V's map and represents Rockstar's largest open world to date.
Rockstar has not provided an official size in square kilometers, so exact estimates circulating online should still be treated as unofficial. What appears to matter more to the studio, however, is not simply the geographical size of the map but its density, variety and level of detail.
From the streets of Vice City and the Leonida Keys to swamps, countryside, national parks and smaller settlements, GTA 6 appears designed to offer significantly more environmental variety than its predecessor.
Combined with more than 170 animal species, extreme weather events and a growing list of side activities, Leonida is shaping up to be much more than simply a larger version of GTA V's Los Santos.
Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
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