# GTA 6 gameplay features: the master list of what's confirmed, graded

Source: https://gta.kuber.studio/gameplay/gta-6-gameplay-features-confirmed
Status: mixed
Updated: 2026-11-15

> Every GTA 6 gameplay feature in one graded table: six wanted stars, heat, loadouts, fuel, hurricanes, 170+ animals, character switching, fences, apps and more.

**Quick answer:** The headline GTA 6 features: **two playable leads (Jason and Lucia) with story-gated switching**, **six wanted stars and a heat system**, a **two-handgun, two-long-gun loadout**, **fuel and car security tiers**, **bank vs cash vs loot**, **170+ animal species** and **hurricanes**. Most details come from Rockstar via press previews, graded reported.

| Key fact | |
| --- | --- |
| Playable leads | Jason and Lucia (confirmed) |
| Wanted stars | 6 (reported) |
| Weapon carry | 2 handguns + 2 long guns (reported) |
| Animal species | 170+ (reported) |
| Hurricanes | Yes (reported) |
| Map | About 2x GTA 5 (reported) |

This is every GTA 6 gameplay feature we can source, in one place, each with a grade. The short version: Rockstar itself has confirmed **two playable leads with switching**, an **optional romance**, **radio on foot via the phone** and a handful of named guns, cars and places. Almost everything else, from **six wanted stars** to **fuel** to **hurricanes**, comes from Rockstar developers speaking to the press, so we grade it **reported**.

Why not call those confirmed? Our rule is to grade by how a claim reached us. A Rockstar developer quoted in Edge or Game Informer is very likely right, but it's still a press write-up, and preview builds change. See [[about/how-we-grade|how we grade]].

## Characters and story systems

| Feature | Detail | Grade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Two playable leads | Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |
| Character switching | Including mid-drive and mid-chase (Dazed) | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |
| Switching is story-gated | "Restricted depending on the progression of the story" (Nelson, Famitsu) | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |
| Switch "at any time" | Red Bull's claim; contradicts Nelson | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Play together or apart | Nelson to IGN; Dazed | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |
| Optional romance | "Yours to keep or yours to lose" (Nelson, Edge) | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |
| Four-point closeness scale | Edge | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Relationship changes the ending | Red Bull says yes; others say Rockstar never said | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Criminal Profile | Per character, Professional to Irredeemable | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Four protagonists | Considered and rejected (Nelson, Famitsu) | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |
| Body changes | Diet, exercise and sleep change physique (Dazed) | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |
| Fridge restocking | Cut as too realistic | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |

Details: [[gameplay/gta-6-character-switching|character switching]], [[gameplay/gta-6-criminal-profile|Criminal Profile]], [[characters/jason-and-lucia-relationship|the relationship]].

## Police and wanted system

| Feature | Detail | Grade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Six wanted stars | Shown in the Extended Look | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Witness-based response | Police need a witness, alarm or car tracker | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Heat system | Tracks CCTV, clothes, suspects, weapons, vehicle | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Star styles | Solid, flashing, hollow, red | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Shake a description | Change clothes, haircut, mask, split up, ditch the car | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Pay 'n' Spray | Repairs and clears wanted level | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Bus trick | Police won't search a bus unless they saw you board (Phil Hooker) | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Helicopters, dogs, perimeters, NOOSE | All referenced | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| "No wanted stars" | Fan-site claim, contradicted by footage | <span class="tag-debunked">debunked</span> |

Details: [[gameplay/gta-6-wanted-system-and-heat|wanted system and heat]].

## Weapons and combat

| Feature | Detail | Grade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Girardi ES9, Klose K17, Hawk & Little Morgan | Named on edition pages | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |
| Duke 556 rifle | Seen in the Extended Look | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Loadout replaces the wheel | Two handguns + two long guns; rest in vehicle | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Auto-aim off by default | | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Focus slow motion | Highlights weak points | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Non-lethal disarms | Vitals targeting | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Heavier recoil and weight | | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |

Details: [[gameplay/gta-6-weapons|weapons]].

## Vehicles

| Feature | Detail | Grade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Seven named vehicles | Cheetah, Stanier, Ganado, Enduro, Crest Kayak, Squalo, Dominator Buggy | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |
| Security tiers and theft tools | Hot-wire, key cloner, lock pick, smash, QTE | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Trackers and registration | Trackers alert police; register for a fee | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Fuel and engine health | Hold to refuel, about 10 seconds | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Trunk storage | Weapons, outfits, people | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Multiple cars and garages | Per character | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Circuit racing | New to the series | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| E-scooters, Scooter Bros delivery | | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Official vehicle count | None given | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |

Details: [[gameplay/gta-6-vehicles|vehicles]].

## Money and phone

| Feature | Detail | Grade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bank, cash and loot | BuckMe app for the bank | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Cash lost on Wasted / Busted | Use ATMs | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Fences | Specialize; unlock through the story | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Rob almost any shop | Plus armored vans; safes by code or explosive | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Minimum cash for some story beats | | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Apps | Snapmatic, BuckMe, Waink, RydeMe, Scooter Bros | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| No public posting | Fugitives can only DM photos | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Radio and podcasts on foot | Via the phone, a series first | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |
| LifeInvader, Bleeter | Unconfirmed | <span class="tag-rumour">rumour</span> |

Details: [[gameplay/gta-6-money-banks-and-fences|money and fences]], [[gameplay/gta-6-phone-and-social-media|phone and social media]], [[music/gta-6-radio-stations|radio stations]].

## World

| Feature | Detail | Grade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Six official regions | Vice City, Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia, Mount Kalaga | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |
| Map about 2x GTA 5, 3x RDR2 | Rockstar devs via press | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| No official km² figure | | <span class="tag-confirmed">confirmed</span> |
| Map unlocks gradually | Nelson, via Red Bull | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| "Order of magnitude more interiors" | Garbut, Edge | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| 170+ animal species, three tiers | Game Informer | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Tropical storms and hurricanes | Game Informer | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Longer day-night cycle | Garbut, Edge | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Scuba diving | Shown in the Extended Look | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Floods, surfing physics | Unconfirmed | <span class="tag-rumour">rumour</span> |

Details: [[world/gta-6-map-size|map size]], [[world/gta-6-interiors|interiors]], [[world/gta-6-wildlife-and-animals|wildlife]], [[world/gta-6-weather-and-hurricanes|weather]].

## Activities

| Feature | Grade |
| --- | --- |
| Fishing, hunting, scuba, kayaking, jet skis | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Skydiving, base-jumping | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Basketball, mini-golf, pool, backyard wrestling, shooting ranges | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Gyms, barbers, salons, tattoo parlors, zoo | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| Pet (or scold) dogs | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |
| About 80 hours with optional content | <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> |

Details: [[gameplay/gta-6-activities-and-side-content|activities and side content]].

## What Rockstar hasn't confirmed

- **GTA Online at launch.** Rockstar calls GTA 6 "a single-player experience"; see [[release/gta-6-gta-online-status|GTA Online status]].
- **Property buying.** Garages are reported; buying homes or businesses isn't.
- **Hurricane effects.** Frequency and gameplay impact weren't disclosed.
- **The full weapon and vehicle lists.**

We'll re-grade this table after launch on Nov 19. For first-day planning, see [[guides/gta-6-tips-before-you-start|tips before you start]]. The section hub is [[gameplay/index|gameplay]].

## FAQ

**What gameplay features are confirmed for GTA 6?**

Rockstar has confirmed two playable leads with character switching, an optional romance, and radio on foot through the phone. Previews add six wanted stars, a heat system, a limited weapon loadout, fuel, money split into bank, cash and loot, 170+ animals and hurricanes.

**Why are most GTA 6 features graded 'reported' and not 'confirmed'?**

Because they reached the public through press previews (Edge, Game Informer, Red Bull, VICE) rather than a Rockstar post. Rockstar developers were the source, but we grade by how the claim reached us.

**Does GTA 6 have a weapon wheel?**

Previews say no: you carry two handguns and two long guns, with the rest stored in your vehicle.

**Is GTA 6 multiplayer at launch?**

Rockstar describes GTA 6 as 'a single-player experience'. GTA Online's status is covered separately.


## Sources

- [Grand Theft Auto VI](https://www.rockstargames.com/VI) (Rockstar Games, Read Nov 15, 2026)
- [Only in Leonida](https://www.rockstargames.com/VI/only-in-leonida) (Rockstar Games, Read Nov 15, 2026)
- [Cocoteo FM (GTA VI music hub)](https://www.rockstargames.com/VI/music/cocoteo-fm) (Rockstar Games, Read Nov 15, 2026)
- [GTA 6 gameplay: Key details that you might have missed](https://www.redbull.com/us-en/gta-6-gameplay-details) (Red Bull, Updated Oct 20, 2026)
- [GTA VI Edge Preview Reveals Huge New Details](https://www.gtavice.net/news/gta-vi-edge-preview-reveals-huge-new-details-on-gameplay-police-relationships-and-more) (GTAVice.net, Oct 29, 2026)
- [20+ things you may have missed in the GTA 6 extended look](https://www.engadget.com/2246846/things-you-may-have-missed-gta-6-extended-look/) (Engadget, Aug 28, 2026)
- [150 New GTA 6 Details Revealed...](https://www.vice.com/en/article/gta-6-new-details-netflix-extended-look-previews/) (VICE, Aug 27, 2026)
- [Exclusive: Grand Theft Auto VI Includes Over 170 Animal Species](https://gameinformer.com/exclusive/2026/09/29/exclusive-grand-theft-auto-vi-includes-over-170-animal-species) (Game Informer, Sep 29, 2026)
- [Exclusive: Grand Theft Auto VI Features Tropical Storms And Hurricanes](https://gameinformer.com/exclusive/2026/09/29/exclusive-grand-theft-auto-vi-features-tropical-storms-and-hurricanes) (Game Informer, Sep 29, 2026)
- [GTA 6: Famitsu's Full Rob Nelson Interview Translated Into English](https://www.gtavice.net/news/gta-6-famitsus-full-rob-nelson-interview-translated-into-english) (GTAVice.net, Sep 9, 2026)
- [GTAVI: An exclusive deep dive into the video game of the decade](https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/70859/1/gta-6-grand-theft-auto-vi-rockstar-exclusive-deep-dive-game-unparalleled-world) (Dazed, Aug 2026)
- [How Big Is GTA 6's Map?](https://gtaintel.com/news/gta-6-map-size-explained) (GTA Intel, Aug 27, 2026)
- [Grand Theft Auto VI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_VI) (Wikipedia, Read Nov 15, 2026)
- [Rockstar Confirms 'GTA 6' $80 Price, Preorder Time And Bonuses](https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2026/06/24/rockstar-reveals-gta-6s-price-is-80-confirms-preorder-time-bonuses/) (Forbes, Jun 24, 2026)