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What do you need to know before you play GTA 6?

The short answer

GTA 6 launches at midnight local time on 19 November 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with a download of up to 212GB on Xbox. Previews describe several changes from GTA 5: police are off the minimap, you carry only 4 guns, cars need fuel, and cash you have not banked can be lost.

Updated 6 sources

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On this page
  1. Launch basics
  2. Story
  3. The map
  4. Police and wanted levels
  5. Criminal profile
  6. Weapons
  7. Cars
  8. Money
  9. Robberies
  10. Relationship, gym and food
  11. Radio and podcasts
  12. What the sources here do not confirm

Launch basics

  • Date: 19 November 2026, at midnight local time, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
  • Download: a maximum of 212GB on Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar says this may change depending on your device.
  • Pre-load: started on 10 November on Xbox Series X|S.
  • Performance: previews report 1440p with a 30 FPS target on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
  • Editions: the Ultimate Edition adds 2 mod shops, a salon, a clothing shop, a tattoo shop, a garage and a gang compound raid.

Most of the gameplay detail below comes from press previews of the game.

Story

You play as Jason and Lucia and can switch between them. The game begins in the Leonida Keys, near Jason's house, and the open world expands after the opening missions. The story is divided into chapters.

Rockstar's Rob Nelson completed an 80-hour playthrough that included main and optional content. Some story missions need a set amount of money before you can play them, so expect to spend time on side activities.

The map

Rockstar has named 6 areas of Leonida: Vice City, the Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga National Park. Previews report that Vice City is twice the size of GTA 5's Los Santos.

You can get around by bus, train, taxi and RydeMe, the game's ride-hailing app. There are hundreds of interiors to enter. Rockstar did not confirm the rumoured figure of 700.

Police and wanted levels

  • Police do not normally appear on the minimap. You spot them yourself, or use Focus.
  • A wanted level starts when someone witnesses the crime, a victim reports it, a security system detects it or a stolen car's tracker reports it.
  • There are 6 stars. At the highest level, police search the whole map.
  • Hollow stars mean a crime was reported but police have no description of you.
  • Icons show what police know: your face, outfit, weapons, vehicle and any camera footage.
  • You can deal with each one. Change clothes, drop the weapons, switch vehicle or wear a mask before the crime.
  • Splitting Jason and Lucia up can remove 1 star.

Criminal profile

Each character has a criminal profile. The known states are Professional, Aggressive, Violent and Psycho. Restraint moves you towards Professional, for example finishing a robbery without killing or injuring anyone you do not need to. Extreme violence can shatter the icon, which is reported to be permanent for that playthrough.

Weapons

  1. You carry 2 concealed handguns and 2 long guns.
  2. Extra weapons and spare outfits are stored in vehicle trunks.
  3. Auto-aim is off by default. Aim assist is light and adjustable.
  4. Focus slows time. Red targets are lethal shots and yellow targets incapacitate without killing.
  5. Carrying long guns openly makes people nervous and draws police interest.

Cars

  • Cars and motorcycles have a fuel gauge. Electric vehicles charge at charging stations.
  • Older cars can be opened with a slim jim or by smashing a window. Expensive models need tools such as a key cloner.
  • Some cars are out of reach early on, because you get the tools later in the story.
  • The Waink phone app scans a car and shows its security level, tracker and the cost to register it.
  • High-end cars have trackers that alert police if you drive too slowly.
  • Every police car has a tracker.
  • Scooter Bros delivers your personal vehicle to you.
  • Roads are narrower than in GTA 5 and handling is heavier.

Money

Money comes in 3 forms:

  1. Bank funds. These are safe.
  2. Cash. You lose what you are carrying if you are Wasted or Busted. Deposit it at an ATM.
  3. Loot in duffel bags. You cannot spend it until you sell it to a fence.

Different fences handle cars, drugs and jewellery, and they unlock as the story progresses.

Robberies

Almost any shop can be robbed. Small shops are not marked on the map as targets, while higher-level targets appear with an estimated payout. Blowing a safe open damages the payout. Finding the combination keeps it, but takes longer.

Relationship, gym and food

  • The romance between Jason and Lucia is optional. Ignoring messages makes the relationship worse and effort rebuilds it.
  • Dates happen through shared activities, such as the zoo, kayaking or the gym.
  • Gyms need a membership. Gaining strength takes 3 consecutive days of training.
  • Overeating adds weight and working out builds muscle.
  • Hair does not grow on its own. New styles need a salon.

Radio and podcasts

Rockstar has previewed 6 radio stations and confirmed on-demand podcasts. You can listen in vehicles or on foot through earbuds connected to your character's smartphone. A streamer mode turns off copyrighted music.

What the sources here do not confirm

  • The number of trophies and achievements.
  • What the PS5 Pro version adds. The PlayStation Store labels the game PS5 Pro Enhanced.
  • Whether Jason and Lucia can marry.
GTA 6 | Everything You NEED To Know [Final Preview]

Sources

  1. GTA 6 Just Revealed a Massive Number of New Gameplay Detailsvice.com
  2. GTA 6 Previews Roundup: All New Gameplay Features Revealedgtabase.com
  3. GTA 6 Download Size & Preload Times Officially Revealed For Xbox Series X|Spurexbox.com
  4. Grand Theft Auto VI second trailer; characters and places detailedgematsu.com
  5. Grand Theft Auto VI: Ultimate Editionplaystation.com
  6. You Can Preview 6 Of The Radio Stations In Grand Theft Auto VI Right Now, Plus New Details About In-Game Podcastsgameinformer.com

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