Rockstar has not published GTA VI’s control layout, so we are not going to guess which button does what. What previews and the Extended Look do tell us is how the systems work: the weapon wheel is gone, replaced by a loadout of two handguns and two long guns; extra guns live in your vehicle; auto-aim is off by default; and a slow-motion Focus mode helps you aim. Almost all of it is reported from previews, not Rockstar’s manual.
We will add the official control map after launch. For the wider first-hours primer, see tips before you start and the guides hub.
How many weapons can you carry?
| Where | How many | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| On your person: handguns | 2 | reported |
| On your person: long guns | 2, but only 1 visible on your back | reported |
| Vehicle storage | Everything else | reported |
Previews don’t spell out how the second long gun is carried if only one sits on your back. We’ll confirm on launch day.
The rule, per Red Bull, Engadget and Edge: you carry two handguns and two long guns, and only one long gun goes on your back. The rest stay in your vehicle, the way RDR2 stored guns on your horse. Trunks also hold outfits, and even people reported.
The practical upshot: choose your loadout before you leave the car. If a job turns into a firefight across the block, you can’t pull a rocket launcher out of thin air.
Does carrying a gun get you arrested?
No, not by itself. A visibly carried weapon changes how NPCs react, but it doesn’t automatically draw police reported. Police respond to witnesses, alarms and trackers. See wanted system and heat.
Which guns are confirmed?
Rockstar’s own edition pages name confirmed:
- Jason’s Girardi ES9 pistol
- Lucia’s Klose K17 pistol
- The Hawk & Little Morgan revolvers, “sourced from the Vercetti Estate” (Ultimate Edition)
- A tropical weapon pattern inspired by Tommy Vercetti’s palm-tree shirt (Vintage Vice City Pack)
The Duke 556 assault rifle appears in the Extended Look reported. Full list: weapons.
How does aiming work?
- Auto-aim is off by default reported. If you play with lock-on, switch it on in settings before your first mission.
- Recoil and weapon weight are heavier than GTA V reported.
- Focus is a slow-motion state that highlights weak points. The Extended Look showed Jason using it; whether Lucia has it too is unclear reported.
- Vitals targeting lets you disarm someone without killing them reported.
- Police cars can be looted for weapons and gear reported.
On PS5, the DualSense adds haptic feedback, per Rockstar’s platform notes as reported. Rockstar hasn’t detailed adaptive-trigger behaviour per weapon. See PS5 and PS5 Pro features.
How do you switch between Jason and Lucia?
The Extended Look showed a character wheel swap mid-drive reported. Dazed, after a Rockstar briefing, describes driving as Jason and swapping to Lucia in the passenger seat, or swapping mid-chase between driving and shooting confirmed.
But it is not always available. Rob Nelson told Famitsu: “There are times when it’s restricted depending on the progression of the story.” Some missions allow free switching and some lock you to one character. Red Bull’s line that you can switch “at any time” contradicts Nelson, and we go with Nelson. See character switching and our profiles of Jason and Lucia.
What about the phone?
The phone is the hub for banking (BuckMe), car checks (Waink), rides (RydeMe), vehicle delivery (Scooter Bros) and the Snapmatic social feed reported. An optional livestream feed opens with R3 on PlayStation, read by fans as a Lifeinvader nod reported. The Xbox equivalent would presumably be the right stick click, but nobody has said so speculation. See phone and social media.
Driving controls
Rockstar says handling blends GTA IV’s weight with GTA V’s accessibility reported. You refuel by holding a button at the pump for about 10 seconds, and stealing cars can involve quick-time events for hijacks reported. Button assignments are not published. See vehicles.
What we don’t know yet
- The default button layout on PS5 and Xbox
- Whether controls can be fully remapped
- Accessibility options beyond the auto-aim setting
- Whether a classic weapon wheel can be turned on
We will fill these in once the game unlocks on Nov 19. Quick answers on everything else: GTA 6 FAQ.