The short answer
In interviews during the preview events around An Extended Look in August 2026, Rob Nelson, co-head of Rockstar North, gave three comparisons:
- The whole map is about twice the size of GTA 5's.
- It is about three times the size of Red Dead Redemption 2's.
- Vice City alone is about twice the size of Los Santos, the city in GTA 5.
These came from conversations with outlets and creators who visited the studio, and were widely reported, for example by VGC. Rockstar has not given square kilometres or miles, and it has not published an official size chart.
How to read "twice as big"
Size comparisons between games are slippery. A few things to keep in mind:
- Land vs water. Leonida has a lot of coast, islands, rivers and swamps. A comparison may count the whole playable area, or only land.
- Density matters more than size. GTA 5's map felt big partly because of empty desert and mountains. Rockstar's message about GTA 6 is that more of the space is built up and full of things to do, and that Vice City is far larger than Los Santos.
- Different shapes. GTA 5 was one island. Leonida is a whole state with a city, a chain of islands, wetlands, small towns and a national park, so travel will feel different even at the same size.
What fills that space
Rockstar has named six regions so far: Vice City, the Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga National Park. We cover each one in our GTA 6 map article.
The Extended Look also showed a wide mix of places you can be in: city streets and rooftops, beaches, open water, wetlands and rural roads. Expect to use boats a lot. The Ultimate Edition alone includes a speedboat and a kayak.
What is not confirmed
- Exact size in km² or miles².
- Leaked or fan-made measurements. Some circulate online, based on old leaks. We don't use them.
- How much is open from the start. Rockstar has not said whether any parts of the map unlock later in the story.
When will we see the full map?
On launch day, November 19, Rockstar will add a free printable map of Leonida to its website, next to a printable cover poster. That will be the first official full map. From then on, our player crew checks locations in the game itself.
Quick answers
Is GTA 6 bigger than GTA 5? Yes. Rockstar North says about twice as big.
Is it bigger than Red Dead Redemption 2? Yes, about three times, by the same comparison.
Is Vice City bigger than Los Santos? Yes. Rockstar North says roughly twice the size.
Is there an official map now? Not a full one. Rockstar's free printable map arrives on November 19.
Where does the story start? Rockstar hasn't said exactly. Jason's side of the story is tied to the Keys, and Vice City is the hub of the state.
Will the map change after launch? Nothing is announced. Rockstar has not said anything about future map expansions.
What this means for you
- Plan for long drives and boat trips. Fast travel details aren't confirmed yet.
- Don't trust "exact size" videos made before launch.
- Bookmark Rockstar's printable map for November 19, and our map article for confirmed places.
Sources
- VGC — GTA 6's map is three times bigger than Red Dead Redemption 2
- Insider Gaming — GTA 6's Vice City is twice the size of GTA 5's Los Santos
- Rockstar Games — Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look
- Rockstar Games — Only in Leonida
- Rockstar Newswire — Pre-load begins on November 10 (printable map on launch day)