Gameplay

GTA 5 vs GTA 6

Likely2 min readUpdated

GTA 6 moves from GTA 5's Los Santos to the state of Leonida, swaps three protagonists for the duo of Jason and Lucia, and is built only for PS5 and Xbox Series X and Series S.

A downtown Vice City tower at sunset, with the bay and skyline behind it
Downtown Vice City at sunset.
On this page
  1. How is the GTA 6 map different from GTA 5?
  2. How do the protagonists compare?
  3. What is new in GTA 6 compared to GTA 5?
  4. Is GTA 6 on PS4 or PC like GTA 5?
  5. FAQ

GTA 5 vs GTA 6 comes down to a new setting, new leads and a big generational leap: GTA 6 trades Los Santos and Blaine County for the state of Leonida, replaces Michael, Franklin and Trevor with Jason and Lucia, and is built only for PS5 and Xbox Series X and Series S. Some differences are confirmed, others we can only infer from the trailers.

GTA V came out in 2013 and has been re-released on two console generations since. GTA VI arrives on 19 November 2026, more than thirteen years later.

How is the GTA 6 map different from GTA 5?

GTA 5 had one city, Los Santos, plus the countryside of Blaine County. GTA 6 is set across a whole state. Leonida includes Vice City, the Leonida Keys, the Grassrivers wetlands, the port town of Port Gellhorn, the farmland of Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga National Park.

The official map size has not been announced. Our GTA 6 map size page tracks the estimates, but treat them as guesses until launch.

Jason and Lucia lean on a green classic sports car on the sand at Vice Beach, with high-rise hotels behind them
Jason and Lucia on Vice Beach, from the official screenshots.

How do the protagonists compare?

GTA 5 had three separate leads with their own lives, and you switched between them at almost any time. GTA 6 has two, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, and they are a couple working together.

That suggests a more connected story, with both characters often in the same scene. Whether you can switch freely like in GTA 5 is covered on our dual protagonists page.

A highway winds through a red-rock canyon covered in trees
A canyon road through Mount Kalaga.

What is new in GTA 6 compared to GTA 5?

Based on the trailers, these are the most visible upgrades:

  • Crowds, with beaches and streets far denser than anything in GTA 5.
  • Wildlife, including alligators and flamingos in the wild.
  • Water, with airboats, speedboats and jet skis central to the setting.
  • Social media, with in-game feeds parodying viral Florida clips.
  • Interiors, with many more buildings that look enterable.

Things like a deeper police system, improved character customization and new features are likely but not fully detailed yet.

Is GTA 6 on PS4 or PC like GTA 5?

No. GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X and Series S only. PC has not been announced, though a recent report claims a PC version is planned for early 2027. GTA 5 also launched on consoles first and came to PC later, so the pattern would be familiar.

FAQ

Is GTA 6 bigger than GTA 5?

Rockstar has not given a size, but GTA 6 covers a whole state with multiple regions, so it is widely expected to be larger.

Can you switch characters in GTA 6 like GTA 5?

GTA 6 has two protagonists, but the exact switching system has not been fully detailed.

Will GTA 5 Online carry over to GTA 6?

There has been no announcement about transferring progress or characters from GTA Online to GTA 6.

Is GTA 6 set in the same world as GTA 5?

It is very likely the same HD universe, but in a different state, Leonida, rather than San Andreas.

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