The State of Leonida: A Florida-Inspired Playground

Leonida serves as the overarching setting for GTA 6, encompassing urban glamour, rural wilderness, and everything in between. It's described as a sprawling state with at least five counties: Vice-D ale (southeast, inspired by Miami-Dade), Leonard (east, like Broward), Kelly (northwest, akin to Collier and Lee), Ambrosia (northeast, similar to Hendry), and Mariana (southwest). This structure allows for a seamless blend of environments, from neon-lit cities to untamed swamps.

Early development leaks suggested a broader "Project Americas" concept spanning North and South America, but it was scaled back to focus on Leonida for a more polished launch. However, references to bordering areas like Gloriana State (inspired by Georgia) hint at potential future inclusions, possibly through DLC or map evolutions.

Vice City Revisited: The Heart of the Action

Vice City, the iconic Miami parody, returns in a bigger, more detailed form as the game's primary urban hub. Leaks show it as a vibrant metropolis with art deco architecture, bustling neighborhoods, and landmarks like Ocean Drive, Washington Beach, and Little Havana. Key spots include:

• Nightclubs and Entertainment: Places like NINE1NINE (based on E11EVEN) and a strip club owned by character Boobie Ike, offering nightlife and business opportunities.
• Iconic Landmarks: The basketball arena (inspired by Kaseya Center), Port Vice City harbor for boat activities, and Vice City International Airport for heists and travel.
• Residential and Artsy Areas: Twin-tower condos, colorful streets like Wynwood with murals, and purchasable properties such as Bayfront Heights apartments.

The city is positioned on the east side of the map, with expanded interiors—over 700 enterable buildings, including restaurants, gun stores, and motels—for deeper immersion. Recent leaks emphasize its role in the story, involving protagonists Lucia and Jason in a conspiracy across the state.

Key Rumored Locations: Beyond the Neon Lights

The map extends far beyond Vice City, incorporating a mix of towns, natural areas, and hidden gems. From Trailer 2's 85 screenshots and community mappings, six main regions stand out:

• Leonida Keys: A tropical island chain south of the mainland, inspired by the Florida Keys. It includes spots like Key Lento (Key Largo) and serves as a party hotspot with luxurious vibes, hidden dangers in the waters, and the protagonists' starting apartment.
• Grassrivers: Swampy wetlands in the south, evoking the Everglades with mangroves, alligators, and airboat exploration.
• Port Gellhorn: A gritty northwest town (in Kelly County) with rundown malls, cheap motels, and decaying attractions, representing a more working-class side of Leonida.
• Ambrosia: A northeast industrial area with sugar refineries, biker gangs, and rural communities.
• Mount Kalaga National Park: Northern wilderness with forests, canyons, rivers, and activities like hunting, fishing, and off-roading. It's inspired by northern Florida and Georgia, offering solitude and wildlife encounters (deer, cougars, foxes).
• Other Spots: Lake Leonida in the center, small towns like Hamlet and Waning Sands, a military base, Red Hill Forest, and underwater explorable areas with treasures and secrets.

Fan mappings from communities like the GTA Mapping Discord and Reddit users have pieced these together using coordinates, road signs, and trailer footage. Speculations include a potential panhandle region (possibly cut) and secret islands, like a Caribbean parody.

Map Size and Scale: Bigger Than Ever?

Community estimates peg the GTA 6 map at nearly twice the size of GTA 5's Los Santos, with some analyses suggesting 2.25-2.5 times larger based on leaked coordinates and scaling. It's described as rectangular, with Vice City in the southeast, swamps in the southwest, and wilderness in the north—offering more traversable space than GTA 5's mountain-heavy layout.

The airport alone is rumored to be 10-20% bigger than GTA 5's, with room for larger planes. Fans believe we've only seen about 10% of the full map in trailers, with mockups indicating a massive world still under wraps. This scale supports dynamic gameplay, like long road trips between towns.

Landscape Variety: From Swamps to Skyscrapers

One of GTA 6's standout features is its environmental diversity, creating "the biggest, most immersive evolution" of the series. Expect:

• Urban Glamour: Vice City's pastel hotels, beaches, and cruise ships, blending American excess with Cuban influences.
• Tropical Paradises: Leonida Keys' islands for boating and relaxation.
• Wild Wetlands: Grassrivers' swamps with wildlife like alligators, boars, snakes, and bobcats—perfect for off-road adventures.
• Rural and Industrial Zones: Ambrosia's refineries and biker hangouts, Port Gellhorn's faded attractions, and dusty towns in Leonard County.
• Natural Wilderness: Mount Kalaga's mountains, forests, and canyons for outdoor pursuits.
• Dynamic Elements: Hurricanes that alter the map, volumetric clouds for storms, and evolving weather systems. Underwater zones add secrets, while wildlife charts hint at interactive ecosystems.

This variety ensures every area feels purposeful, with scattered shanty towns and long routes for exploration.

Potential Expansions and Future Updates

Rockstar plans post-launch growth, adding new missions, cities, and map overhauls in a Fortnite-like evolving format. Leaks suggest seasonal changes, expansions to areas like a Rio de Janeiro事实 parody, or even combining past GTA cities (Los Santos, Liberty City) into one mega-map. Recent 2025 rumors point to delays (now set for May 26, 2026) allowing for these refinements, with hints of parody websites and character ties expanding the world's lore.

Community discussions note potential cuts, like a northwest panhandle or features such as prone mechanics, but emphasize the map's density and detail.

Wrapping Up: A Map Worth the Wait

The latest GTA 6 map leaks paint a picture of a dynamic, expansive world that redefines open-world gaming. From Vice City's bustling streets to Leonida's wild frontiers, the variety and scale promise endless exploration. With the release pushed to 2026, expect more reveals to build the hype. Whether you're cruising the Keys or surviving swamps, Leonida looks set to deliver unforgettable chaos. Stay tuned for official updates—Rockstar's silence only adds to the excitement!