GTA VI: 22 New Gameplay Details Worth Knowing Before Launch

Rockstar has finally started sharing specifics instead of just more trailers. Alongside the launch of pre-orders, the studio revealed the contents of each GTA VI edition, and the descriptions of the included vehicles, locations, and bonuses give away a surprising amount about the gameplay itself.

GTA VI launches on November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. There are still a few months to go before release, but more than 60 new screenshots, the Ultimate Edition description, and a PlayStation blog post give us the clearest picture of the game we've had since the second trailer.

Not everything below carries the same weight. Some of it Rockstar confirmed outright, some comes from descriptions of bonus content, and a few details come from an unconfirmed, already-pulled Amazon Brazil listing. Here are the 22 most important things we know ahead of launch.

1. Car customization is back in a much bigger way. Rockstar confirmed a wide range of visual and performance modifications: different interiors, rims, donk-style parts, and on select models, unique spoilers, antennas, and paint jobs. It's not yet clear how much the mechanical modifications will actually affect handling, but the descriptions suggest more than just cosmetics.

2. Classic Car Collection is a new side activity. Abandoned classics and unfinished car projects will be scattered across the map for you to find and restore. The job giver is Wyman, described by Rockstar as an eccentric collector and local fixer. The exact structure of the activity hasn't been shown yet.

3. Off-road driving might be its own system. The Ultimate Edition vehicles include a Dinka Enduro motorcycle and a 1967 off-road Vapid Dominator, both tied to the Mud Club, an off-road crew featured in the first trailer. Rockstar hasn't confirmed a full off-road racing system, but the signs are strong.

4. Personal garages will be available across Leonida. Personal garages will let you store vehicles and gear up before jobs. Each one comes with a weapon locker and a secure stash for stolen goods. It's still unclear whether garages will need to be purchased or unlocked through the story.

5. Stolen goods will need somewhere to hide. The descriptions suggest that carrying "hot" items may attract police attention, making the stashes in garages and hideouts genuinely necessary. Loot is shaping up to be more than just an abstract inventory line.

6. Weapons are getting deeper customization. Select guns can be modified with grips, engravings, and sights. The Ultimate Edition materials mostly show pistols and revolvers, but that's likely just a sample, not the full list of options. Rockstar hasn't clarified yet whether the attachments will affect stats or stay purely visual.

7. Weapon lockers might mean the end of the unlimited weapon wheel. A system that lets you set your loadout before a job hints at a move away from the GTA V approach, closer to Red Dead Redemption 2, where some gear had to stay with your horse. That's still a reading of the material, though, not an officially described mechanic.

8. Fences are in the game. Rockstar confirmed that at least one local fence will buy most stolen goods, at a lowball price, of course. That fits the more classic crime story where Jason and Lucia get into trouble after a heist gone wrong.

9. Local gangs are a source of contraband. The Ultimate Edition includes access to a warehouse heist against PTT Youngin$, a marijuana-dealing gang from south Vice City, netting special items. It's unclear how often these heists will be available or whether other gangs will have their own unique loot.

10. Fishing sounds promising, but it's still a guess. The Ultimate Edition includes a Shitzu Squalo boat that can be docked and prepped for a trip out. However, the description specifically mentions casting a line in Gambit Bay and reeling in various catches. That could be a hint at a new mechanic, or it could just be flavor text for the product. Rockstar hasn't officially confirmed it.

11. Diving might make a comeback. That same boat shows gear that looks like diving equipment. It's a suggestion, not proof, but given the scale of Leonida's coastline and the presence of several types of watercraft, the return of underwater exploration seems likely.

12. NPCs reportedly have their own routines. This comes from the Amazon Brazil listing, whose reliability is questionable, so I'm treating it cautiously. Leonida could end up feeling more like the densely simulated world of Red Dead Redemption 2.

13. Random events are meant to bring the map to life. The same unconfirmed listing mentioned random encounters while exploring. Rockstar hasn't addressed this yet, but it's a natural direction to take after RDR2.

14. The phone might become a social media hub. According to the same source, you'll be able to watch viral clips, follow influencers, and discover world events through it. That would fit the first trailer, which showed a lot of scenes as vertical clips circulating online, but again, this isn't officially confirmed yet.

15. The game includes several nods to classic Vice City. The Vintage Vice City Pack includes, among other things, a 1955 Vapid Stanier, a garage, outfits, and a special weapon skin styled after the original game. The name Vercetti Estate also shows up in the descriptions, which could just be an easter egg for Tommy Vercetti fans rather than a hint at his return.

16. Jason and Lucia get an extensive wardrobe. Both characters will have access to outfits, accessories, and complete style sets, while the Ultimate Edition includes access to exclusive stores.

17. Tattoos can be applied to different body parts. Getting tattoos on the arms, legs, and back has been confirmed for both Jason and Lucia, pointing to a wide range of character customization.

18. Hairstyles, facial hair, makeup, and nails are all changeable. Both characters can switch up their hairstyles, Jason can adjust his facial hair, and Lucia can change her makeup and nails. This is shaping up to be one of the most extensive protagonist customization systems the series has ever had.

19. The beach property is officially Jason's Hideout. It will have space to store several vehicles at once, including the Enduro mentioned earlier, a Crest kayak, and a Vapid Ganado pickup. It's not yet known whether you'll be able to change your appearance there, or whether Jason and Lucia will get more properties like it.

20. Mid-mission character switching is still unconfirmed. According to the Amazon Brazil listing, select missions will let you switch between Jason and Lucia in real time. Both are officially playable, but Rockstar hasn't shown exactly how this will work in practice.

21. The story will be split into chapters. Rockstar states that Ultimate Edition bonus items unlock as you progress through the story's chapters, confirming a chapter-based structure. We don't know the number of chapters yet, or whether the game's structure will resemble Red Dead Redemption 2.

22. The PS5 version will support DualSense features and 3D audio. Sony confirmed support for DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, Tempest 3D Audio, and the console's high-speed SSD for near-instant world loading. No PC version has been announced yet.

The Standard Edition costs $79.99, and the digital Ultimate Edition costs $99.99. The standard version will be available digitally and in a box containing a download code instead of a disc. The Ultimate Edition will be digital only, though standard edition owners will be able to buy the upgrade later. Preloading for digital pre-orders starts at midnight local time on November 12. The boxed standard edition is set to hit stores that same day, so its code can also be used to download the game ahead of launch.