GTA 6 Gameplay Leak Confirms True Scale Of The Open World

6 days ago 19

Lucia boxing with gameplay from Grand Theft Auto 6 behind her.

Published Apr 17, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT

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At this point, fans are just waiting for the other shoe to drop for Grand Theft Auto 6. We know quite a bit about it from the two official trailers so far, but we also have plenty of leaks dating back several years. Folks are getting antsy and want more details on what to expect, assuming the game is still on track.

While these leaks cover everything from story and gameplay to missions, the map, and potential cut content (and what's not in the game), the open world is by far the most interesting thing to break down.

How Big Is GTA 6?

It's Pretty Dang Big Already

According to the recent roundup of GTA 6 leaks, the game will have "700+ shops," most of which will allegedly have interiors to visit. There are even shopping malls, apparently, with multiple stores, as well as "skyscrapers with lifts." A basketball minigame is also supposedly in, which could end up taking a lot of free time when wandering around Vice City between missions.

The biggest shock is easily the existence of underwater areas with "treasures and secrets," but there's also evidently the possibility of renting hotels and motels. This was expected (along with the anticipation of buying homes), given the GTA Online updates over the past year that focused on interiors.

There will also be open-world specific animations, like Jason and Lucia hiding their guns if they're walking out in public with them, and NPCs will react differently to you. Amazingly, there is potentially a system where NPCs will call the police if you trespass. All in, this could be one of the most immersive open-world experiences yet.

GTA 6 Is Going To Keep Us Busy For Ages

Especially On PC

A plane flying over the Leonida Keys in GTA 6

Right now, fans are mostly worried about the map. All of these open-world details sound great on paper if they play out and make it into the final version of GTA 6, but the map might not have a panhandle and will take place on an island, according to leaks.

A 2023 leak claims that an area "inspired by the Bahamas" will make it in as "one of the three islands" beyond the core Vice City map, but that could have changed/have been cut by now, given all the changes the game has had and the altered development cycles. One intriguing element is the addition of a "fort", kind of like Fort Knox, which could lead to a potential heist opportunity.

It seems like the sky is the limit for GTA 6, as far as the open world enhancements go. But fans will also be looking at the characterizations and the narrative, judging them against past games in the series.