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GTA 6 vs GTA 5: The Biggest Confirmed Differences

· Updated · 4 min read

GTA 6 comparison – gamepad in front of a TV screen (illustration photo, not game footage)

GTA 5 has been one of the most played games in the world for more than a decade, so every new detail about GTA 6 is instantly compared to it. This guide sets out the biggest differences between the two games, using only information Rockstar Games has officially confirmed. Where something has not been announced, we say so clearly rather than guessing.

Setting: Los Santos vs Vice City and Leonida

GTA 5

GTA 5 takes place in the state of San Andreas, a parody of Southern California. Its main city is Los Santos, inspired by Los Angeles, surrounded by Blaine County’s deserts, mountains and small towns.

GTA 6

GTA 6 moves the action to the state of Leonida, Rockstar’s take on Florida. Its main city is Vice City, inspired by Miami, and the trailers show beaches, swamps, highways, small towns and the Florida Keys-style islands of the region. Rockstar’s trailers present it as the most ambitious world in the series so far, but official numbers such as map size have not been published. Our Leonida map guide covers the regions Rockstar has shown.

Protagonists: three vs two

GTA 5 has three playable characters:

  • Michael De Santa, a retired bank robber in witness protection;
  • Franklin Clinton, a young repo man from South Los Santos;
  • Trevor Philips, Michael’s unpredictable former partner.

Players switch between them at almost any time, and some missions use all three.

GTA 6 has two protagonists, Lucia and Jason. Rockstar’s trailers present them as a couple pulled into crime together, and Lucia is the first female lead of the modern era of the series. How character switching will work has not been fully detailed by Rockstar. Find out more about them in our GTA 6 characters guide.

Platforms

GTA 5 first launched in 2013 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, then moved to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, and later to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

GTA 6 is announced for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S only. Rockstar has not announced a PC version. This follows the studio’s usual pattern: GTA 4 and GTA 5 both reached PC after their console launches, but there is no official confirmation for GTA 6. We track this in our GTA 6 PC release page.

Tone and themes

GTA 5 satirised celebrity culture, the finance industry, government agencies and California lifestyle. GTA 6’s trailers point their satire at modern Florida and at social media culture, with parodies of viral videos and live streams shown in the first trailer. The exact story and how these themes appear in missions will only be clear once the game is out.

How each game was revealed

GTA 5 was announced in 2011 with a debut trailer, followed by a long marketing campaign of screenshots, character trailers and gameplay videos before its 2013 launch.

GTA 6 has followed a slower, more selective approach. Rockstar released the first trailer in December 2023 and a second trailer in May 2025, along with official screenshots and character profiles on its website. Rockstar typically shares information through its own Newswire and official channels, so those remain the only reliable sources for confirmed details.

Gameplay: what we can and cannot compare

GTA 5’s gameplay is well known: driving, shooting, heists planned with a crew, character switching, stock markets and side activities such as golf and tennis. For GTA 6, the trailers show driving, boats, aircraft, wildlife, crowded beaches and nightlife, but Rockstar has not published a full feature list. Until gameplay is shown in detail, any comparison of systems such as heists, shops or property ownership is speculation.

What is not confirmed yet

Fans often treat leaks and rumours as facts. As of our latest update, Rockstar has not officially detailed:

  • the exact map size compared with GTA 5;
  • how many story missions GTA 6 includes;
  • how GTA 6’s online mode will work or when it will launch;
  • whether GTA 5 Online characters, money or vehicles carry over;
  • a PC release date.

We will update our guides when Rockstar confirms these details.

Will GTA Online continue?

Rockstar continues to support GTA Online on current platforms. It has not announced an end date for GTA Online or explained how a future online mode for GTA 6 will relate to it.

Should you still play GTA 5 before GTA 6?

Yes, if you enjoy open-world crime stories. GTA 6 is a separate story, so you do not need to know GTA 5 to understand it, but GTA 5 remains one of the best ways to learn how modern Rockstar games handle missions, driving, shooting and heists. Many players also return to GTA Online while waiting for a new release.

Side-by-side summary

  • Setting: San Andreas and Los Santos (GTA 5) vs Leonida and Vice City (GTA 6).
  • Protagonists: Michael, Franklin and Trevor (GTA 5) vs Lucia and Jason (GTA 6).
  • Launch platforms: PS3 and Xbox 360 (GTA 5) vs PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (GTA 6).
  • Satire targets: Los Angeles culture and celebrity (GTA 5) vs Florida life and social media (GTA 6).

Frequently asked questions

Is GTA 6 a sequel to GTA 5?

No. GTA 6 is a new story with new characters in a different state. Both belong to the same HD universe of the series.

Is the GTA 6 map bigger than GTA 5?

Rockstar has not published official map-size figures. Any comparison you see online is an estimate.

Can you play GTA 6 on PS4 or Xbox One?

No. Rockstar has announced GTA 6 only for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Does GTA 6 have three characters like GTA 5?

No. Rockstar has confirmed two protagonists, Lucia and Jason.

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