Rockstar Games has unveiled significant details regarding the world size and estimated playtime for Grand Theft Auto 6. The game's map will be twice as large as that of Grand Theft Auto 5, and finishing the main story with some optional narrative-driven objectives is expected to take approximately 80 hours. This information comes as part of a recent wave of details released by Rockstar.
According to Rob Nelson, Rockstar's head of development, the upcoming title's rendition of Vice City and its surrounding areas are monumental in scale. Comparisons place the map at three times the size of Red Dead Redemption 2's world. Vice City alone is reportedly twice the size of Los Santos, with its surrounding regions being eleven times larger than Los Santos and its environs. The state of Leonida, inspired by Florida, will feature six key locations revealed so far: Vice City, Port Gellhorn, Leonida Keys, Grassrivers swamps, Mount Kalaga National Park, and Ambrosia. This expansive environment is expected to house numerous activities and systems, including a revamped relationship system, more realistic driving and car-jacking mechanics, and an updated Wanted system.
Nelson shared the estimated playtime in a discussion with The New York Times, noting that a recent playthrough in February took around 80 hours to complete the main story and certain optional elements with narrative impact. This figure suggests that players seeking to engage with all the game's side content and diversions will likely spend considerably more time in the world. The recent surge of information follows a period where the game was subject to significant leaks, though Rockstar has also faced allegations of union busting in the UK. Major outlets have also commented on the game's direction. Eurogamer editor-in-chief Chris Tapsell noted that GTA 6's apparent move toward a more grounded, ultra-realistic tone represents a significant risk but potentially the correct approach for the series.