GTA VI open-world activities: from kayaking to the gym, and around 80 hours of play

Leonida will be much denser than previous worlds in the series, according to Red Bull’s summary of what was shown in the Extended Look and the preview sessions. Vice City alone is said to be twice the size of Los Santos, and the city with its surrounding countryside reportedly multiplies GTA V’s urban area by eleven (Rockstar has not confirmed official figures). The map starts hidden and is revealed as you explore, the story is divided into chapters with safehouse changes in the style of Red Dead Redemption 2’s camps, and Jason and Lucia follow their own daily routines (getting up, showering, watching TV) with no player input.

The list of confirmed activities is long: basketball, kayaking, mini-golf, billiards, diving, skydiving, jet skiing, fishing, hunting, wrestling and shooting ranges. The gym improves health, stamina and focus, and it also has a visible effect on physiques: regular training builds muscle, while overeating makes the characters gain weight.

Getting around includes buses, trains, taxis and the RydeMe app (the game’s Uber equivalent), with full conversations if you stay in the vehicle during the ride. Social media is integrated: with Snapmatic you can follow accounts, scroll through content and see NPC events you can travel to in real time. Small details round out the world: footprints in the sand, sand sticking to your shoes, visible sweat after sprinting, and traffic patterns that change with the time of day. And one figure for planning: according to Rob Nelson, head of development at Rockstar North, a full playthrough with optional objectives takes around 80 hours.