GTA 6 gameplay excitement grows as Rockstar's map size hint resurfaces

Emma Rosemurgey
2026-01-26T12:58:13.151Z
Entertainment

GTA 6 looks set to be even bigger than anticipated as Rockstar hints at huge map

With fewer than 300 days to go until the eagerly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, fans are now dissecting any information they can find about the game.

It has only been a matter of weeks since several GTA 6 leaks were seemingly proven, after the game's publisher, Rockstar Games, was forced to defend the decision to fire more than 30 staff members for allegedly sharing private information online.

One of the leaks, which now appears to be very much true, suggested that Vice City is the biggest city in the game, as well as the fact that the overall map will be significantly bigger than any seen in previous GTA titles, though most had already assumed this to be the case.

Now, fans have uncovered further evidence that GTA 6 will outstrip all of its predecessors in size after noting the clever wording used by Rockstar when it announced the title would be delayed a second time and would instead hit shelves on 19 November.

Fans are waiting with bated breath for GTA 6 to drop (Rockstar Games)

Fan account @rockstationonx took to X to share the statement, writing: "Rockstar added this wording on the GTA 6 delay announcement. Yeah... this game is going to be way bigger than we think."

The particular wording the account was referring to was the line: "While the wait is a little longer, we are incredibly excited for players to experience the sprawling state of Leonida and a return to modern day Vice City."

“The sprawling state of Leonida”

Rockstar added this wording on the GTA 6 delay announcement.

Yeah… this game is going to be way bigger than we think. pic.twitter.com/1BD9F4bMcE
— RockStation (@rockstationonx) January 25, 2026

The very carefully worded statement certainly suggests Leonida, and therefore the GTA 6 map, will span significantly further than just Vice City, and it certainly seems to be building excitement just as Rockstar planned.

"Sprawling Leonida. That phrasing alone builds the hype Rockstar knows how to tease scale," one X user wrote, adding: "Can't wait to explore it."

A second agreed: "This game is going to be huge in every single way. Hype, storyline, map, details, the lot!"

ICYMI this is our first look at the GTA VI map pic.twitter.com/rUNv5BtxEd
— GTABase.com (@GTABase) May 7, 2025

Meanwhile, another suggested the wording provided yet another reason the game is 'probably worth the wait,' even going as far as branding GTA 6 the 'game of the century.'

Back in August last year, Rockstar 'leaked' the first look at the map in the form of Brian Heder, one of the game's characters, standing over a desk where the map lay open, with certain locations marked with an X.

One fan even went so far as to edit the map so it could be seen face-on, and it looks even bigger than anyone had anticipated.

While some suggested it might be a 'map of one state', others said it could be a 'sub-section' of the whole layout.