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GTA 6 Trailer 1 Breakdown

GTA 6 Trailer 1 arrived on 5 December 2023 and introduced Lucia, the state of Leonida and a modern Vice City set to Tom Petty. Here is what it showed and why it mattered.

Jason and Lucia run out of a convenience store in Port Gellhorn during a robbery
The convenience store robbery that opens the story in the trailers.
On this page
  1. What does GTA 6 Trailer 1 show?
  2. Why did Trailer 1 come out early?
  3. What did Trailer 1 confirm about the setting?
  4. How does Trailer 1 set up the story?
  5. What about the music?
  6. FAQ

GTA 6 Trailer 1 was released by Rockstar Games on 5 December 2023, a day earlier than planned after the video leaked online. It was the first official look at Grand Theft Auto 6, confirming a return to Vice City inside a new state called Leonida, and it introduced Lucia as one of the game's leads.

The trailer runs to the tune of "Love Is a Long Road" by Tom Petty, and it went on to break YouTube's 24-hour view record for a non-music video. For many fans it was the first time in a decade that a brand new GTA felt real.

What does GTA 6 Trailer 1 show?

The trailer moves fast, but it can be grouped into a few clear threads:

  • Lucia's introduction. We first meet Lucia Caminos in prison, which matches her official profile as a former inmate of Leonida Penitentiary.
  • Modern Vice City. Neon streets, packed beaches, nightclubs and luxury cars show off a bigger, busier Vice City than the 1980s original.
  • Florida-style chaos. In-game social media and livestream clips parody the kind of viral Florida videos everyone has seen online.
  • Wild Leonida. Swamps, alligators, flamingos and long highway bridges hint at a map that reaches far beyond the city.
  • The couple. The trailer closes on Lucia and a male partner, later confirmed as Jason Duval, pulling a convenience store robbery together.
Lucia in an orange prison jumpsuit and handcuffs, waiting in line with other inmates
Lucia in prison, where her story begins.

Why did Trailer 1 come out early?

A low-quality copy of the trailer appeared online the evening before its scheduled premiere. Rockstar responded by publishing the full trailer straight away rather than letting the leak spread. The early drop did nothing to slow it down, and view counts climbed at record speed through the first day.

A guard tower and razor wire fence at the Leonida prison in Hamlet
The prison where Lucia serves her sentence.

What did Trailer 1 confirm about the setting?

Trailer 1 put the Leonida name on screen and made it clear the game is Rockstar's take on modern Florida. Beyond Vice City, it showed shots that line up with the Leonida Keys and the Grassrivers wetlands. The variety of beaches, swamps, highways and small towns suggested a state-sized playground rather than a single city.

If you want to see where these shots sit in the world, our interactive map pins the locations we have matched so far.

Boats and jet skis crowd a sandbar party in turquoise water
A sandbar boat party in the Keys.

How does Trailer 1 set up the story?

The structure tells a small story of its own. Lucia starts behind bars, the middle of the trailer shows the wider world, and the ending shows her free and committing crimes with a partner. That arc points to the Bonnie and Clyde style relationship that Rockstar later confirmed for Jason and Lucia.

The trailer does not explain how Lucia gets out of prison or how she meets Jason. We expect the opening hours of the game to cover that ground.

What about the music?

Tom Petty's "Love Is a Long Road" gave the trailer a warm, nostalgic tone that contrasts with the crime on screen. Rockstar has a long history of picking trailer songs that fit a game's mood, and this one matched the idea of a couple on the run. Our GTA 6 trailer songs page covers every confirmed track.

FAQ

When was GTA 6 Trailer 1 released?

GTA 6 Trailer 1 was released on 5 December 2023. Rockstar posted it a day early after it leaked online.

What song is in GTA 6 Trailer 1?

The song is "Love Is a Long Road" by Tom Petty. It plays across most of the trailer.

Who is the woman in GTA 6 Trailer 1?

She is Lucia Caminos, one of the two protagonists. The trailer introduces her in prison before showing her on the outside with Jason.

Did GTA 6 Trailer 1 break records?

Yes. It broke YouTube's 24-hour view record for a non-music video.

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