| Grand Theft Auto VI | |||
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| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
GTA 6 has finally been confirmed for a 2025 release after a long decade of waiting. Read on to learn about our first impressions of the game, its story, and gameplay.
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GTA 6 Gameplay
GTA 6 will be an open-world action-adventure game set in the fictional region of Vice City, Leonida. Other than that, despite the gameplay leaks, not much can be confirmed about its gameplay due to the lack of officially-released information. Speculation abounds that it may resemble the more recent Red Dead Redemption 2, with polished gunplay mechanics and sandbox features. Alternatively, it could more closely mirror its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto 5, which leans into life simulation with random events, various side hustles, and numerous missions.
In Red Dead Redemption 2, you get a mix of action and exploration, with everything from gunfights to horseback riding and hunting. Each interaction feels unique, with the world reacting to your choices in real time. A focus on realism means every decision you make affects how others see and treat you.
Meanwhile, Grand Theft Auto 5 focuses more on the sandbox experience with non-linear storytelling and a very open career path. There’s a huge city to explore with tons of vehicles, weapons, and activities. The game lets you impact the world and story through your actions and choices.
A few key tourist attractions of the region include Vice City, the sun-and-fun capital of America, and the Leonida Keys, an area full of bars and dubbed the Gateway to Paradise.
Outside the more rambunctious parts of Leonida, there are locations like the Grassriver: the region’s untamed wetlands, where gators and other predators lurk in the mangroves. For a more leisurely experience, visitors can head to Mount Kelaga for hunting, fishing, and off-road trails—provided they don’t mind the occasional mystics and radicals hiding out from the government.
Lastly, nestled in Leonida’s underbelly is Port Gellhorn, known for its cheap motels, painkillers, and energy drinks. Nearby lies Ambrosia, a place where American industry and old-school values still reign supreme.
The GTA 6 Story
Follow Jason, a troubled man trying to live an easy life, and Lucia, who’s chasing the good life her mother dreamed of since they arrived in Liberty City, as they navigate the gritty, crime-packed streets of Leonida—taking on missions, building their empire, and making their mark in Vice City.
Other characters were also introduced in GTA 6’s second trailer. These include Boobie Ike, a "local Vice City legend" who is one of the few to rise from the streets to a legitimate empire that includes real estate and recording studios. Then there’s Brian Heder, a seasoned drug runner who’s old enough to let others do the work for him. He lets Jason, half of the series’ protagonist duo, crash at one of his properties prior to reuniting with Lucia, as long as he helps shake down a few establishments and occasionally stops by for his third wife Lori’s sangria. Lastly, we have Raul Bautista, a risk-loving bank robber who keeps aiming higher—maybe too high for his own crew to handle.
Cal Hampton, meanwhile, is part of the game’s supporting cast: a good friend of Jason’s who’d rather lock himself in his room and eavesdrop on Coast Guard frequencies. Dre'Quan Priest, on the other hand, is a "gangster" more interested in breaking into the music scene. He’s currently signed with Real Dimez, a savvy duo of women who’ve turned their days of shaking down dealers into a budding music career.
GTA 6 showcases the state of "Leonida," which is home to the familiar "Vice City." Their depiction is eerily reminiscent of Florida to a tee, with the populated beaches, vibrant nightlife, random gator sightings, and more. It seems to have that Floridian energy that people have heard of in memes, media, etc. The GTA franchise has always been one of the more satirical or controversial games, known to parody and mimic real-life situations and behavior. Rockstar didn’t mess around and definitely brought the likeness with the wild and rowdy happenings in the trailer, as well portraying the modern usage of social media.
GTA 6 Similar Games
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MindsEye Adventure, Shooter |
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Paradise Simulation, Adventure, Action |
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Red Dead Redemption Action, RPG, Open-World |
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Action, Shooter, Military |
