GTA 6 follows two protagonists instead of three, moves from Los Santos to the state of Leonida and its Vice City, and has a map Rockstar puts at about twice the size of GTA 5’s. It launches on November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only, as a single player game with no online mode announced. Below is every difference we could confirm from Rockstar or a major outlet.
Side by side
| GTA 5 | GTA 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| First release | September 17, 2013 | November 19, 2026 |
| Launch platforms | PS3 and Xbox 360 | PS5 and Xbox Series X|S |
| Setting | Los Santos and Blaine County | The state of Leonida, home to Vice City |
| Protagonists | Three: Michael, Franklin and Trevor | Two: Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos |
| Map size | The baseline | About twice as large |
| Highest wanted level | Five stars | Six stars |
| Online at launch | GTA Online followed about two weeks later | Single player; no online mode announced |
| PC version | Released later | Not announced |
Two protagonists instead of three
GTA 5 tells the story of three criminals, which the Xbox Store listing describes as a young street hustler, a retired bank robber and a terrifying psychopath: Franklin Clinton, Michael De Santa and Trevor Philips. Kotaku’s review noted you could hop across the map by switching between them.
GTA 6 has two: Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, a couple pulled into a criminal conspiracy across Leonida. Kotaku reported that Rockstar settled on a Bonnie and Clyde style duo. In its roundup of the August 2026 coverage, Kotaku said you can swap between them at almost any time, though swapping may be locked at certain story points.
Leonida instead of Los Santos
Kotaku’s review called GTA 5’s Los Santos a parody of Los Angeles, with the vast Blaine County to the north. GTA 6 is set across Leonida, which Rockstar calls the sunshine state. Rockstar names six regions, from the city of Vice City to the wetlands of Grassrivers and the Mount Kalaga national park.
GTA 6 is also set in the present day. In Rockstar’s words, we are a long way from the 1980s, but Vice City is still the sun and fun capital of America.
A bigger, denser map
VGC reported that the map is officially twice as large as GTA 5’s. Kotaku reported that Rockstar’s Rob Nelson told YouTuber TGG the same, adding that Vice City alone is twice the size of Los Santos. TechRadar reported that a Rockstar co-head said GTA 6’s roads are narrower than GTA 5’s, so the studio added even more buildings. Our map size guide has the details.
Six wanted stars
Kotaku’s review of GTA 5 counted up to five stars of notoriety. In GTA 6, TechRadar and Kotaku both reported a six star wanted level. Kotaku added that police can remember your face, car and clothes if you are spotted, so changing your look can help.
The phone and social media
Kotaku’s review noted that each GTA 5 lead had a cell phone and that the game had a fake internet full of spoof brands. In GTA 6, Kotaku reported that you can browse social media on the phone, and that the in game Snapmatic app will not let you post photos while you are on the run.
Rockstar also says radio and podcasts play through headphones connected to Jason and Lucia’s phones, so you can listen on foot. Podcasts are a first for the series, according to Rockstar. See our radio stations guide.
Online and platforms
GTA Online arrived about two weeks after GTA 5, Kotaku recalled in 2018. For GTA 6, Rockstar calls the game a single player experience and has not announced any online mode (details).
GTA 5 later came to more consoles and PC (where to play it today). GTA 6 is on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only, and no PC version has been announced (is GTA 6 on PC?).
Price
GTA 6 costs $79.99 for the Standard Edition and $99.99 for the Ultimate Edition. Our editions guide lists what each includes.
What we don’t know yet
- How the game plays across a full story, beyond the trailers and the Extended Look.
- The exact map size in square miles.
- Whether an online mode will follow, and when.
- How many hours the story lasts, from an official source.
Related pages
- All GTA games in order
- GTA 6 Vice City vs the original Vice City
- GTA 6 platforms and requirements
- GTA 6 cars
