Quite a few details about Grand Theft Auto 6 have been revealed through it recently appearing as a cover story in Game Informer magazine. Along with this, however, Rockstar Games has indicated that it may have opted to skip the inclusion of the massive theme parks that the state of Florida is famous for when it comes to designing the in-game state of Leonida.
As caught by IGN, senior vice president of environment art, Paul MacPherson, spoke about the design of the map and how theme parks like Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios present an interesting challenge in how they could be integrated into Grand Theft Auto 6. However, while the team was going for diversity with its locales, it also had to be selective about what it could include in the game.
“We have to constantly evaluate the diversity of landscapes, towns, structures, landmarks, vistas, plant species, rock formations, and everything else before we work with design and narrative to distil a list down that best works with and serves the game’s needs. So, while we may not have those exact locations, everything we have is geared to getting that full Florida experience!”
Grand Theft Auto 6 is going to have a massive open world for players to explore, with the in-game state of Leonida featuring six distinct regions. Fans of the franchise, however, might be interested in exploring Vice City itself more than anything, and Rockstar has seemingly “completely rebuilt” and “expanded” the city over its previous appearances. Other regions include Leonida Keys, the Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia, and Mount Kalaga National Park.
Rockstar Games has also called the map of Grand Theft Auto 6 its biggest one by “some degree”. Senior vice president of narrative Rupert Humphries said that the story has even been designed around ensuring that players get to see much of the world “in a way that feels authentic and interesting.” However, there will still be plenty left to the player’s own discretion to explore.
“We don’t have time to take you everywhere, but we want you to be able to explore and get a feel for most of the places, cultures, and vibes…This game and its stories really thrive in an environment where you have rich people and poor people right next door to each other. And crime and corruption are the thread that pulls everyone together.”
The studio has also seemingly become quite ambitious when it comes to the weather system in Grand Theft Auto 6. Vice president of art for lighting and rendering, Owen Shepherd, has confirmed that the in-game rain can even create realistic rainbows “under the right lighting conditions”. Along with this, places where it recently rained will remain wet, and there will even be persistent puddles.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is making its way to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19th. For more details, check out the new screenshots showcasing some of the in-game features like thunderstorms, wildlife, and hunting. And while you’re at it, take a look at how the team has managed to include more than 170 animal species in the game.
