GTA 6 has more than 170 animal species, with fur that gets wet and muddy

Leonida is home to more than 170 animal species. Preview report That's the headline wildlife number from Game Informer's GTA 6 cover story, which went live for subscribers on September 29 and is based on the magazine's interviews with Rockstar developers. Rockstar says the total includes Leonida-native species that have never appeared in one of its games before.

Game Informer first said the issue would cover a "staggering" amount of wildlife. Now the details are out, and they go well beyond a headcount: there's an animal-tracking system with Legendary creatures, sea life with its own behaviour, and fur that reacts to rain and mud.

The numbers

For scale: GTA 5 had only a small fraction of that. Rockstar advertised more than 200 animal species for Red Dead Redemption 2, a game built around the wilderness, so GTA 6 gets close to Red Dead territory in a game centred on a city. That comparison is ours, not Rockstar's.

Which animals are confirmed

Named by Rockstar in the feature: manatees, flamingos, pelicans and alligators. Preview report

In the water: several species of shark, plus whales, rays, turtles and jellyfish. Rockstar says each has its own distinct way of moving. Preview report That fits what previews said about scuba diving and underwater exploration.

Reported by one outlet so far: green iguanas, feral cats, cane toads, armadillos and rhesus macaques. Preview report We've only seen these in one summary of the feature, so treat them as likely rather than certain until more coverage confirms them.

If that second list holds up, it's a very Florida joke. Every one of those animals is an introduced species in the real state. Rhesus macaques have lived wild around Silver Springs since the 1930s, cane toads and green iguanas are well-known South Florida pests, and armadillos only spread into Florida in the last century. Game Informer had already said Leonida includes non-native species, which we covered on September 29.

Rare, Discoverable and Legendary animals

Animal tracking is back. Preview report Wildlife falls into three categories: Rare, Discoverable and Legendary. Rockstar is keeping the Legendary animals secret for now.

Red Dead Redemption 2 players will recognise the idea. That game had Legendary animals to hunt and a compendium that filled in as you studied wildlife. Earlier previews of GTA 6 mentioned a wildlife checklist too, so expect something similar. What tracking actually rewards in GTA 6 hasn't been explained.

Fur that gets wet, dirty and matted

This is the most technical part of the reveal. Rockstar says animals can show iridescence, bioluminescence and translucency, with improved feathers and new hair and fur systems for coats and pelts. Preview report

Fur is fully simulated. According to the feature, it's set up for "human-to-animal interaction" and reacts to the world around it: it can get wet, pick up dirt, mat and clump together, and coats vary in colour and pattern. Preview report With hurricanes and tropical storms also confirmed, a soaked dog after a downpour is now a real possibility.

What Rockstar hasn't said

• Hunting rules. Mount Kalaga National Park is set up for hunting, but Rockstar hasn't said which species you can hunt, or whether any are protected.
• Pets. No word on whether Jason and Lucia can own or adopt an animal.
• The Legendary list. How many there are, and where.
• Storms and wildlife. Whether animals react to hurricanes, beyond fur getting wet.

None of this changes the release date. GTA 6 launches November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with pre-loading from November 12 (our pre-load guide).

Questions about GTA 6 animals