Grand Theft Auto VI's state of Leonida is roughly twice the size of GTA 5's map. Preview report That's according to Game Informer's cover story on the game, which went live for subscribers on September 29 and is based on the magazine's interviews with Rockstar developers.
It makes Leonida the biggest map Rockstar has built for a Grand Theft Auto game. The size comparison is being widely reported from the feature, which sits behind Game Informer's paywall. We'll add Rockstar's exact wording once we can confirm it.
What's actually new here
"About twice GTA 5" isn't a brand-new number. Journalists who visited Rockstar North in August came back with the same rough estimate, alongside bolder claims such as Leonida being up to three times the size of Red Dead Redemption 2's world. Preview report
The difference is the source. Those August figures were reporters' impressions after a hands-off demo. This time the comparison is reported as coming from Rockstar itself, in interviews for the feature. Until now, Rockstar's only official line was that Leonida is its biggest and most immersive world yet. Confirmed
Bigger, and denser
Rockstar's pitch isn't just about square miles. According to Game Informer, the world is also more detailed and more interactive than Los Santos, with particular care given to rooftops, alleyways and building interiors. Preview report
Rockstar also told the magazine that a significant number of buildings can be fully entered, each with its own detailed interior. Preview report That fits the 26-minute Extended Look that premiered on Netflix on August 27, where much of the footage took place inside clubs, stores and apartments rather than on the open road.
What fills the space
Leonida is split into six regions: Vice City, the Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga National Park. Confirmed The same Game Informer issue adds a lot of detail about what lives there and what you can do.
- Wildlife: more than 170 animal species, including over 60 kinds of birds and more than 30 land mammals. Manatees, flamingos, pelicans and alligators are all named. Preview report
- Weather: a new localized, persistent weather system, so conditions can differ across the state. Tropical storms and hurricanes can hit Leonida. Preview report
- Activities: base jumping, billiards, gyms, kayaking, mini golf, scuba diving, street and off-road racing, zoos, airboats and jet skis. Preview report
See where each region sits in our Leonida map guide, and every confirmed system in our gameplay guide.
What Rockstar hasn't said
No exact size. Neither Rockstar nor any report we've seen gives a figure in square miles or kilometres. "Roughly twice" is a comparison, not a measurement, so treat any precise number you see online as a fan estimate. That includes fan-made overlays comparing Vice City with Los Santos.
How the space is split. We don't know how much of the extra area is open wilderness, water or swamp versus built-up city. Grassrivers and the Keys suggest a lot of it won't be dense streets.
Whether it's all open from the start. Rockstar hasn't said whether any regions unlock as the story goes on.
An official map. Rockstar still hasn't published a full world map. A map image from a development build leaked in August. Rumor / leak We don't reproduce leaked material. Read our leak explainer.
How the size claims compare
| Comparison | Claim | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Whole map vs GTA 5 | About 2x larger | Rockstar, via Game Informer (Sep 29) |
| Whole map vs GTA 5 | About 2x larger | Press preview estimates (Aug) |
| Whole map vs Red Dead Redemption 2 | Up to about 3x larger | Press preview estimates (Aug) |
| Vice City vs Los Santos | About 2x larger | Press preview estimates (Aug) |
| Exact area | Not given | — |
GTA 6 launches November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with pre-loading from November 12. None of this changes the release date.
Questions about the GTA 6 map size
How big is the GTA 6 map?
Game Informer's September 29 cover story reports that Leonida is roughly twice the size of GTA 5's map, based on its interviews with Rockstar. Rockstar has not given an exact figure in square miles or kilometres.
Is GTA 6 bigger than Red Dead Redemption 2?
Press previews in August estimated Leonida at up to about three times the size of Red Dead Redemption 2's world. That comparison has not come from Rockstar, and Game Informer's report only compares the map with GTA 5.
Can you go inside buildings in GTA 6?
Yes. Game Informer reports that a significant number of buildings in Leonida can be fully entered, each with its own detailed interior, and that Rockstar gave rooftops and alleys extra attention too.
Does GTA 6 have hurricanes?
Yes, according to the Game Informer feature. Tropical storms and hurricanes can hit Leonida as part of a new localized weather system, though Rockstar hasn't said how often they happen or whether they affect missions.
Has Rockstar released an official GTA 6 map?
No. Rockstar has not published a full world map. A map image from a development build leaked in August 2026, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.