Leonida vs Vice City: what has changed in GTA 6
GTA 6 returns to Vice City — but as part of a larger state called Leonida. Here is what we know about the map and how it compares to the original.
GTA 6 is set in Leonida, a fictional US state inspired by Florida. The map includes Vice City — the Miami-inspired location from the 2002 classic — but this time as one part of a much larger world.
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What is Leonida
Leonida is the fictional state where GTA 6 takes place. It is Rockstar's interpretation of Florida, the same way San Andreas was their version of California and Los Santos was their version of Los Angeles.
The name Leonida does not correspond to any real US state. It is an original creation by Rockstar, designed to give them creative freedom while drawing from real Florida geography, culture and atmosphere.
Vice City is back — but bigger
The original GTA: Vice City (2002) was set entirely within a fictional version of Miami. In GTA 6, Vice City returns as the urban center of Leonida, but it is no longer the entire map.
The trailer shows a dense, modern city — recognisably Miami-inspired, with neon, ocean views, high-rises and a heavy Latin cultural influence. But the map extends well beyond the city limits.
What surrounds Vice City in GTA 6
The trailer confirms environments beyond the urban core:
- Wetlands and swamps — clearly inspired by the Florida Everglades, with airboats, wildlife and rural communities
- Smaller towns — suburban and rural areas outside the main city
- Coastal areas — beaches, marinas and waterfront locations
This variety suggests a map designed for more environmental contrast than GTA 5, which was dominated by the city of Los Santos and its surrounding desert and hills.
How the map compares to GTA 5
| Feature | GTA 5 (Los Santos) | GTA 6 (Leonida) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary city | Los Santos (LA-inspired) | Vice City (Miami-inspired) |
| Map size | ~49 km² | Larger — exact size unconfirmed |
| Rural areas | Desert, mountains, forests | Wetlands, swamps, coast |
| Water | Pacific Ocean to the west | Atlantic-style, surrounding coast |
| Map confirmed larger | — | ✅ Yes, officially |
Rockstar has confirmed the GTA 6 map is larger than GTA 5. No exact figure has been released.
Why Florida works for GTA
Florida as a setting offers Rockstar something California could not:
- Flat terrain — different visual language from GTA 5's mountains
- Extreme weather — hurricanes, flooding, heat
- Cultural diversity — heavy Caribbean and Latin American influence, which fits the tone of the trailer
- Distinctive wildlife — alligators, exotic animals, unique ecosystem
- Tourism and crime — Florida's reputation as a place where extraordinary things happen regularly
The trailer leans into all of these. The tone is different from GTA 5 — louder, more humid, more chaotic in a distinctly Floridian way.
What we do not know yet
- Exact map boundaries and km²
- Whether the map will expand post-launch
- How many distinct districts Vice City has
- Interior locations and level of building access
- Dynamic weather system details
Read more
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- GTA 6 release date: everything we know
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