Amidst the ongoing buzz surrounding the forthcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6, the most frequently asked question centres on the map’s design for the upcoming instalment in this iconic franchise.
Over the past few years, numerous purported leaks have surfaced, though not all have been substantiated, resulting in extensive fan speculation and uncertainty regarding the exact location of the next game.
The geographical setting holds significant importance in any GTA playthrough. Throughout the franchise’s history, the size and intricacy of the maps have evolved, sparking many possibilities in the players’ minds.
The forthcoming title has generated significant fan anticipation. Still, Rockstar Games has been notably tight-lipped about the game, leading ardent enthusiasts to resort to extreme measures to obtain early gameplay footage.
While Rockstar Games has a history of teasing upcoming titles through Easter eggs, official verifications have been scarce, and players should exercise caution and not believe everything they come across.
The Credibility of Recent Gta 6 Map Leaks
Recently, a Twitter user with the handle GTA 6 SPAM shared what they purported to be a leaked section of the upcoming GTA 6 map.
GTA 6 Leaked section of the map pic.twitter.com/uQ5ZEfPR31
— GTA 6 SPAM 🍸 (@GTA6posts) June 27, 2023
However, it resembles more of an overlay on Google Maps rather than an authentic in-game screen from Grand Theft Auto. Considering the user’s track record of speculative tweets, including a rumour about the game featuring a cryptocurrency reward mission, their credibility might be scrutinised.
Besides the grainy image quality, even if it were genuine, it lacks substantial details about the map for the upcoming GTA 6, leaving players with little idea of what to expect.
The image only shows a few scattered buildings and a shoreline, making it difficult to interpret. Some have speculated that AI might have created the map, as certain text elements appear suspicious.
Over the years, Grand Theft Auto has been no stranger to leaks, with rumours surfacing as early as 2018. According to Inside Gaming’s report, even before the release of Rockstar’s other renowned title, Red Dead Redemption 2, leakers claimed to know the location and map details for GTA 6.
Initially regarded as mere rumours from an unknown source, many of the leaked facts were accurate and later corroborated by subsequent information.
GTA 6’s Most Significant Secrets Revealed
In September 2022, a GTAForums user leaked over 90 clips of test footage and source code for Grand Theft Auto 6, causing the leaks to go viral quickly. The game developer Rockstar worked diligently to remove the test footage, though the damage was already done, exceeding what the company initially intended to reveal.
Rockstar later stated on Twitter that their network had been compromised and the leaked footage was authentic.
A Message from Rockstar Games pic.twitter.com/T4Wztu8RW8
— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 19, 2022
One significant revelation from the leak was that GTA 6 would introduce a female protagonist in the franchise’s history. According to a report by Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, the character would be part of a duo inspired by the infamous bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde.
Additionally, the leaked footage hinted at the game’s setting, which appeared to be reminiscent of a Miami-like environment, providing players with clues about the upcoming title’s map.
What caught the attention of many fans was the striking similarity of the leaked video’s environment to GTA Vice City. In this beloved instalment, players assume the role of Tommy Vercetti in a 1980s Miami-inspired setting. The confirmation of the leak fueled speculation that GTA 6 might be set in a modern-day version of Vice City.
GTA 6 Map Theory Takes Center Stage
Rockstar Games has been keeping a tight lid on GTA 6, revealing only a few details through a tweet in February 2022, confirming that the next instalment in the GTA series was indeed in development.
Many of you have been asking about a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series.
With every new project, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we’ve previously delivered. We’re pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the series is underway.
— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) February 4, 2022
Despite the lack of official announcements, fans have been engaged in speculation, especially after witnessing early gameplay footage that seemed to support a realistic theory.
Historically, Grand Theft Auto has a reputation for expanding the size and scale of its fictional cities in each new release. For example, GTA 4 brought back Liberty City but enlarged it by incorporating Alderney, which is not present in GTA 3.
Similarly, GTA 5 introduced San Andreas, combining Los Santos and Blaine County to create a more extensive and interconnected world.
This trend has led many fans to believe that the leaked information from September 2022 indicates that GTA 6 will likely be set in an expanded version of Vice City, encompassing more of the surrounding state rather than confining the game’s setting to a single metropolitan area.
Earlier speculations suggested that GTA 6 might be set in two distinct locations, with some fans theorizing the inclusion of a Cuba-like island. However, these rumours lack any credible evidence to support them.
Another story, Project Americas, envisioned a game covering North and South America, but it has not been substantiated and received little follow-up. Considering the franchise’s history, it seems more plausible for GTA 6 to focus on exploring the intricacies of Vice City and its surrounding areas, one of the smaller cities in the series.
One fan attempt to recreate the GTA 6 map involved using leaked 2022 gameplay footage’s in-game coordinates to map out an expanded Vice City and its neighbouring regions.
While the resulting map was quite impressive, it should be acknowledged that such efforts may prove futile, as developers often change locations before the game’s official release.
Additionally, the coordinates used in the map do not provide clear boundaries, making it challenging to depict the game’s final layout accurately.
Several other theories circulating on Twitter (e.g., GTA6Videos) involve fans comparing the leaked footage from September 2022 with various locations in and around Miami, attempting to match the buildings in the screenshots with real-life places in Florida.
🔴GTA 6
CONFIRMED – Buildings found and confirmed in Central Vice City – We can see part of the CONFIRMED MAP below…
🌆🏙️🌴#GTA6 #GTA6LEAKS pic.twitter.com/YyRyhwWcEn
— GTA6Videos (@GTA6VlDEOS) July 23, 2023
While these comparisons seem plausible, it’s essential to note that most discussions following the significant September 2022 leak have been mere fan speculation. Rockstar Games has refrained from providing any concrete details thus far.
Despite uncertainty about the actual map in the final game release, Grand Theft Auto 6 is poised to become the most ambitious instalment in the franchise’s history, likely featuring a more extensive map than players have ever experienced.