Rockstar has officially revealed three major new gameplay features for Grand Theft Auto 6, and the cover story that brought them is finally accessible now. The details come from Game Informer’s big GTA 6 cover story, and they are worth a read even if you have no intention of buying the game.
Animals Get a Full Upgrade
The headline act is the animal system. GTA 6 introduces over 170 new creatures across Leonida, the game’s fictional Florida setting. That includes native species like monkeys and toads, plus invasive ones like the nine-banded armadillo. Some critters stick to the wild, but others are perfectly at home in the city streets.
The framework borrows from Red Dead Redemption 2, but Rockstar has made it bigger and better. Fauna can now show iridescence, bioluminescence, and translucency. Feather types vary, and fur reacts to water, dirt, and clumping. Rare animals are back, too, and Rockstar is keeping the specifics under wraps.
Weather Goes From Mild to Intense
Florida’s microclimates are notorious, and GTA 6 wants you to feel them. The state is the only place in the United States with a tropical climate zone, and Rockstar promises more severe weather patterns with a grander sense of scale.
Tropical storms and seasonal hurricanes are coming. Depending on the conditions, rainbows and puddles will appear dynamically on the map. The wind system is entirely new, affecting debris, water ripples, and blades of grass. Hurricanes will go beyond simple clouds and gusts.
Players will see water interacting with architecture, from buildings to lampposts.
NPCs Are More Diverse Than Ever
The character generation system has already been teased, but the cover story fills in the details. Beyond clothes and hair, NPCs will vary in butt and chest size. It goes deeper: different types of freckles, moles, degrees of tanning, and tattoos.
NPCs will also offer extensive dialogue and reflect the culture of their regions. The game has already shown the incredible variety it can produce, and the cover story confirms that the details run far below the surface.
What the Cover Story Offers
The full feature is worth reading in full, especially if you want to learn more about GTA 6 before its release on Nov. 19. The story is available via the app, and it is free to access.
The article rounds up some of the most noteworthy revelations from the cover, but the full piece offers far more than what we have summarized here.
Key Facts Box
- Release date: Nov. 19
- Setting: Leonida, Florida
- Animals: Over 170, including monkeys, toads, and the nine-banded armadillo
- Weather: Tropical storms, hurricanes, dynamic rainbows and puddles
- NPCs: Freckles, moles, tanning, tattoos, butt and chest size variation
The cover story is worth your time. Read it for the details, and wait for the game to arrive.
See the 6 cover at Polygon.
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