Merely 10 minutes after a leaker shared the official GTA 6 trailer on their X account, Rockstar Games swiftly moved to release the official trailer themselves, a surprising 15 hours ahead of the initially scheduled time.
We've thoroughly examined every detail in the 1 minute and 30 seconds long video clip and there's a ton to delve into. At first glance, it might appear to give off the usual Miami city vibes, but the trailer reveals much more.
It's crystal clear that Rockstar Games has not opted for censorship, debunking earlier rumors and remaining true to their style in the GTA franchise. The upcoming installment appears to be doubling down on that commitment. Just from the trailer, it's evident that GTA 6 incorporates some of the best references related to pop culture, politics, and real-life social aspects. It is also worth noting that Rockstar Games has renamed the State of Florida to the State of Leonida.
Here's everything you might have missed in this thriller of a GTA 6 trailer.
Radio Broadcast Tower
The trailer kicks off with a captivating shot of the Vice City skyline, featuring a bridge road that strikingly resembles the iconic Florida Keys. In the distance, we can see a tall Radio Broadcast Tower which is clearly reminiscent of the Florida Broadcast Tower.
Radio Broadcast Tower.
In this same shot, on the right side of the screen, we also see what appears to be the Leonida State Prison (in-game representation of Florida State Prison).
Prison area next to some water treatment plant.
Lucia's Family Photo
The next shot is of Lucia, the female protagonist of GTA 6, engaged in a conversation with her correctional officer, identified as Stefanie, thanks to the desk name plate. But what's interesting here is a family photo in Lucia's jail cell. It is very hard to notice at first, but it is on the wall between the bunk beds.
Image greatly enhanced for visual clarity.
This gives us a hint of what to expect. Maybe Lucia, had or has a family in the game. There's a possibility that Lucia either had or currently has a family. Past rumors suggested Lucia having a child, but this remains speculative. The family photo in her jail cell, however, suggests otherwise. If she did have a child, a significant figure from her life would likely be featured in this taped family photo on her wall, wouldn't they?
Marine Life
As the camera pans up from a bird's-eye view of the sky to Miami Beach, it becomes evident that the water is exceptionally transparent, revealing marine life like turtles, sharks, dolphins, and even a flock of flying ducks.
New marine life variants.
Returning Air Vehicles
As the camera starts to move towards the cityscape, we can see some returning airborne vehicles, such as the Maverick helicopter and the Dodo Seaplane.
The two highly popular air vehicles from GTA V and Online.
In one of the beach scenes, we can also see the The Buckingham SuperVolito and the The Sea Sparrow in the distance.
SuperVolito and the Sea Sparrow.
Brickell on the River Condos
The trailer also features almost an exact copy of the "Brickell on the River" condos.
Brickell on the River tower comparison.
Everglades
The trailer also shows the GTA 6 equivalent of the Everglades, named Grass Rivers. The in-game rendition mirrors the real-life Everglades National Park in Florida, renowned for its diverse wildlife and conservation efforts for species like the American crocodile and Florida panther. The trailer shows almost all the wildlife one would expect to see including crocodiles, flamingos, deer, ducks, and alligators.
Who knows, we might even encounter some more dangerous animals in-game, such as the Florida panther or even a Python.
Updated NPC Behavior
The beach activities appear to have expanded in diversity. NPCs are observed engaging in various actions, from applying sunscreen to capturing videos and photos, possibly portraying influencers.
This also aligns with an assumption that social media will play a significant role in the GTA VI narrative, as indicated by the trailer itself.
An NPC captures footage of Jason and Lucia cruising in their sports car, raising questions about whether this is a mission-driven encounter or a random interaction akin to those experienced in GTA 5 when flaunting high-end vehicles.
NPC filming Lucia and Jason.
Possible Pets
Certain NPCs are spotted jogging on the beach accompanied by a Chihuahua, a breed not seen in prior releases.
This sparks speculation about the potential inclusion of a highly requested pet feature for players.
Patricia & Phillip Frost Museum of Art Recreation
The road on which Jason and Lucia are being filmed on mirrors the Biscayne Row with a building in the distance that resembles the Patricia & Phillip Frost Museum of Art.
Biscayne Row buildings.
Little Havana Car Meet
A car gathering in Little Havana showcases a wall adorned with graffiti and abstract designs, which is quite similar to the aesthetic of the Wynwood Walls.
The comparison between the real life counterpart.
Venetian Islands
The trailer also shows an incredible night time view of the Venetian Islands which is almost the same as the real-life Venetian Islands.
Venetian Islands comparison.
Ocean View Hotel
We also see Vice City Beach road which now has increased foliage, NPCs, and enhanced vibrancy. The famous Vice City Beach road is a lot closer to the real Ocean Drive in looks.
The Ocean View Hotel in the distance stands out as the most iconic element in this scene.
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Interestingly, the 4-door sedan, Oceanic, makes a return with the same color scheme as seen in GTA: Vice City, often parked in front of the Ocean View Hotel. This sure is a nostalgia trip!
Ocean View Hotel with an Oceanic sedan parked outside as seen in 2002's GTA: Vice City.
We can also see a homeless man on the pavement begging with an Iguana on his shoulders.
This detail is interesting, given that Iguanas are common in Florida.
In certain seasons, the state even permits people to shoot and kill them due to their invasive nature and how they tend to swarm the state in numbers. Some individuals consider Iguanas a delicacy.
Swarm of Iguana on Miami Beach residential area as seen on ABC's Local News 10.
Peggy Gou DJ
The GTA 6 trailer introduces a female DJ striking a remarkable resemblance to Peggy Gou, a South Korean DJ. This showcases GTA 6's adeptness at integrating contemporary trends and pop culture.
Also, given how much the K-pop influence has increased over the recent years, this is very well met.
Fat Albert & The Keys
When looking across what is clearly the replica of the Florida Keys, we can see a blimp in the distance.
Mission Accomplished?
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In 2020, a woman was destroying the property around her neighborhood using two hammers. And a video of the incident went viral.
Florida Joker
One scene in the trailer shows a tattooed character having his mugshot taken by the Vice Dale County, seemingly inspired by the real-life "Florida Joker" who gained notoriety after his arrest in 2017.
Vice Dale County is also the game's version of the Miami-Dade County.
Ride Out Customs
One of the cars has a "Ride Out Customs" sticker on their rear windscreen. Ride Out Customs could be the vehicle customization and repair shop similar to Los Santos Customs in GTA V.
Ride Out Customs sticker.
Returning Brands
In one of the scenes where Jason and Lucia are walking in a small grocery store shows several familiar brands such as Pißwasser, eCola, Benedict, and Logger.
Pißwasser and Benedict seen in this frame.
Moving Cargo Ships
We already know that the yachts are returning, and so are the cargo ships. However, what's interesting is that we can see moving cargo ships. We've never had moving cargo ships in the past. Even in GTA 5, we've only had docked cargo ships to go on for missions in GTA Online.
It opens up the possibility that we may be able to hijack these cargo ships or rob them, similar to how we could rob the moving trains in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Different Gangs Revealed
We've already deduced three main gangs we will encounter in the game from the trailer. The first is the Thrillbilly Mud Club, which focuses more on the "muddy" off-road side. The second is the High Rollerz street car racing group, which focuses on underground street races. We also see an unnamed biker gang.
The biker gang could potentially be a part of the Thrillbilly Mud Club, but that is highly unlikely.
Social Media Prominence
Rockstar Games seems to have incorporated social media as a major aspect of the game. Social media takes center stage in GTA 6, which is evident from numerous TikTok-style and Instagram Reels-like videos scattered throughout the trailer. Leave it to Rockstar Games to keep up with the times!
The influencers seen on the right are the same ones we see on the car from a drone shot on the left.
Trailer Song Reveals Narrative
The song used in the trailer is a 1989 song called 'Love is a Long Road' by Tom Petty from his solo album Full Moon Fever . The song is about two lovers who grew apart due to life struggles.
The Bonnie and Clyde dynamic between Jason and Lucia may serve as the foundational narrative in GTA VI, who eventually grow apart. Maybe one will betray the other for their own safety.
This is also emphasized greatly towards the end of the trailer, where Lucia tells Jason that the only way to get through all the hardships is through "Trust." This is all speculation, of course, but quite a calculated speculation.
Jeff Bezos
The trailer may have also featured a Jeff Bezos lookalike. While it is not certain, the uncanny resemblance cannot go unnoticed.
Possible Jeff Bezos cameo in GTA VI.
GTA 6 is scheduled to release some time in 2025 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S with no specific date. There is also no mention of PC release date, which has caused quite a stir among PC gamers.
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