GTA 6 vs GTA 5: Platforms, Characters and Map Size

The short answer

GTA 6 and GTA 5 are both present-day mainline GTA games, but the setting, protagonists and platforms change. The table separates official details from attributed preview reporting.

Setting: from Los Santos to Leonida

Rockstar describes GTA 5’s Los Santos as “a sprawling sun-soaked metropolis full of self-help gurus, starlets, and fading celebrities.” Take-Two’s launch announcement called the setting “a satirical reimagining of modern day Southern California”, covering Los Santos and Blaine County to the north.

GTA 6 is set across a whole state. Rockstar has introduced six regions of Leonida: Vice City, the Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga. Its Vice City introduction says: “We’re a long way from the ’80s, but Vice City is still the sun and fun capital of America.” For the full layout, see the GTA 6 map.

Both games are set in the present day, but GTA 5 centers on one big city and its surroundings, while GTA 6 puts a whole state front and center.

Protagonists: from three to two

GTA 5 has three leads: Franklin Clinton, Michael De Santa and Trevor Philips. Rockstar’s overview says “players repeatedly jump in and out of the lives of the game’s three lead characters, playing all sides of the game’s interwoven story.”

GTA 6’s leads are Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. The official story premise begins: “Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them.” Lucia is the first female lead in a mainline GTA. An Extended Look shows switches between them during mission sequences.

Separately, IGN’s preview reports switching at almost any point and the option to roam together. This is reporting on a preview build, not a complete set of rules published by Rockstar. It does not establish every restriction in the released game. See GTA 6 gameplay mechanics for the attributed report.

Beyond the two leads, Rockstar has published bios for six supporting characters, all new, with no one from GTA 5. For whether the stories connect, see does GTA 6 take place after GTA 5?

Online

GTA 5 came with GTA Online, which launched on October 1, 2013, two weeks after the game. GTA 5’s sell-in figure today includes GTA Online.

GTA 6’s pre-order announcement says “Grand Theft Auto VI is a single player experience.” That describes the game itself; it does not say whether or when an online mode will follow. Rockstar has also not announced any way to carry GTA 5 saves, Online characters or in-game money over to GTA 6. More in does GTA 6 have online multiplayer?

Platforms and PC

GTA 5 launched on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, then came to PS4 and Xbox One (November 2014), PC (April 2015) and PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (March 2022).

GTA 6 launches only on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and there is no official word on a PC version. See GTA 6 platforms and GTA 6 PC release.

Graphics and total playable-map area

Graphics: Rockstar has not published resolution or frame-rate targets for GTA 6. Rockstar’s website says the extended look was “captured entirely from in-game footage on the PlayStation 5.” Screenshot comparisons online show a difference in style, but they are not official data.

Total playable-map area: The sources cited here do not establish a reproducible total for GTA 6. A comparison of cities or built-up areas does not measure the complete playable world. A numerical GTA 5 comparison needs matching boundaries and a stated method. See GTA 6 map size.

Sales

According to Take-Two’s quarterly report filed in August 2026, GTA 5 (including GTA Online) had sold in more than 230 million units as of June 30, 2026, and the series more than 470 million. Take-Two also reported that GTA 5 made more than $800 million in retail sales on its first day and passed $1 billion in three days. GTA 6 is not out yet, so it has no sales figures.

Related pages

• All GTA games in order: from the 1997 original to GTA 6
• Does GTA 6 take place after GTA 5?: story, universe and old characters
• GTA 6 map size: what has and hasn’t been announced
• GTA 6 release date: November 19, 2026

Sources

• Rockstar: GTA VI website
• Rockstar: Only in Leonida (character bios and regions)
• Take-Two: Rockstar pre-order announcement
• Rockstar Newswire: An Extended Look now playing
• Rockstar Games: Grand Theft Auto V (official overview)
• Take-Two: GTA V launch announcement (September 17, 2013)
• Take-Two: GTA V first-day sales announcement (September 18, 2013)
• Take-Two: GTA V passes $1 billion in three days (September 20, 2013)
• Take-Two: fiscal 2027 first-quarter report (10-Q)
• IGN: exclusive preview (August 27, 2026; reported switching scope)
• IGN: 99 details from An Extended Look (footage observations)