As the gaming world eagerly awaits the release of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI), it is interesting to compare it to its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V). Many exciting changes and improvements are expected in GTA VI that will set it apart. Here are the 10 biggest differences between GTA VI and GTA V based on the latest available information:

1. The Setting
GTA VI is set in the fictional state of Leonida, inspired by Florida. Confirmed locations include Vice City (Miami-based), Port Gilhorn, Mount Caligan National Park, Ambrosia, Grass Rivers, and the Leonida Keys. Unlike GTA V, which centered mostly around Los Santos, GTA VI features a much larger and denser map with multiple cities and diverse environments. There are also strong hints that additional cities like Orlando and a fictional state called Gloriana (based on Georgia) might be in the final game. This promises a richer open world offering more activities beyond just free roaming.

2. Dual vs Trio Protagonists
GTA V introduced a groundbreaking system with three playable protagonists: Michael, Franklin, and Trevor. While revolutionary, many found the story harder to emotionally connect with due to three separate characters. GTA VI changes this by featuring two main protagonists, a criminal duo named Lucia and Jason, inspired by the real-life Bonnie and Clyde. This marks the series' first female lead protagonist and focuses on a romantic criminal partnership, enabling deeper emotional storytelling and more focused gameplay switching between the two leads.

3. Story Tone Themes
GTA V’s story was known for its sharp satire of American culture with themes like fame, money, betrayal, and midlife crises. However, its tone kept emotional investment distant with a strong focus on humor and irony. In contrast, GTA VI promises a more emotionally grounded and culturally relevant narrative. The story will center more on personal struggles, relationships, loyalty, and betrayal, drawing players closer to the characters' experiences. The Bonnie and Clyde inspiration suggests a grittier, more intimate crime story, a major shift from GTA V’s broader satire. If you’re waiting for GTA VI’s release, you can still enjoy GTA V by picking up cheap gta 5 modded accounts from legit sellers online. They give you more freedom to try creative gameplay without endless grinding.

4. Map Size Scale
GTA VI's map is reported to be roughly twice the size of Los Santos from GTA V. It features multiple cities, towns, and dense ecosystems. Unlike GTA V, where many outlying areas felt empty and under-utilized (e.g., Sandy Shores), GTA VI focuses on making every area feel lively with more interior spaces, interactable businesses, and populated suburbs. The vertical scale is also enhanced, offering bigger buildings and more detailed interiors, improving immersion substantially.

5. Total Cost
GTA VI is one of the most expensive games ever developed, with estimated total costs around $1 to $2 billion including development, marketing, voice acting, and infrastructure. By comparison, GTA V cost around $265 million in 2013. This enormous budget signals Rockstar’s investment in cutting-edge technology, massive marketing campaigns, and extensive post-launch support, especially for the anticipated GTA Online sequel.

6. Weapon Inventory System
Unlike GTA V, where players had access to an unlimited arsenal instantly, GTA VI adopts a limited weapon carrying capacity system, taking inspiration from Red Dead Redemption 2. Players will need to strategically manage weapons and cannot pull out heavy weapons like rocket launchers or miniguns from nowhere. Weapons are likely stored in vehicles or inventory slots, encouraging planning before missions and balancing gameplay by avoiding overpowering arsenals.

7. Law Enforcement Police System
The police system in GTA VI promises a significant upgrade in realism. Unlike the often unrealistic police response in GTA V, where cops spawn instantly and behave erratically, GTA VI features delayed and intelligent law enforcement responses. Police will wait for players to exit buildings and remember vehicles used during crimes, increasing challenge and immersion. The detailed police AI shown in trailers suggests more believable investigations, body cam footage references, and dynamic interactions with crime gangs.

8. Graphics and Technology (RAGE Engine)
Running on an upgraded RAGE 9 engine, GTA VI showcases massive graphical improvements over GTA V. Features include full ray tracing with global illumination, realistic water physics and ocean ecosystems, dynamic weather, and incredibly detailed environments and character models. The game delivers photorealistic visuals, from skin textures and tattoos to underwater flora and fauna. This leap in graphics takes full advantage of next-gen hardware capabilities, creating an immersive, lifelike game world.

9. Next-Gen Exclusive
GTA VI is designed exclusively for current-generation consoles (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S) and high-end PCs. This means it is not held back by previous gen hardware limitations, unlike GTA V, which had to scale back for PS3 and Xbox 360. The next-gen exclusivity allows for larger maps, higher resolution textures, faster loading with SSDs, and improved performance, delivering the ultimate open-world experience.

10. First Female Protagonist
For the first time in the GTA franchise, players can control a non-optional female lead protagonist, Lucia. Unlike previous GTA titles where female characters were secondary or optional, Lucia is a full co-lead alongside Jason. This marks a huge step forward in representation and storytelling diversity for Rockstar and the series. Lucia is portrayed as a resilient, cool-headed character with her own motivations, emotions, and agency, signaling a fresh and evolved narrative direction.

GTA VI aims to build on and surpass the massive success of GTA V by expanding the open world, pushing next-gen technology, and offering a deeper, more emotionally grounded story with diverse protagonists. From a vastly larger and more detailed map to a revamped weapon system and improved police AI, GTA VI looks to deliver a richer, more immersive gameplay experience. With such bold changes as a female lead and a limited weapon carry system, it marks a new era for the Grand Theft Auto franchise and could very well redefine open-world gaming.