American magazine Game Informer published a 14-page cover feature on GTA 6 on September 29, 2026, built on direct interviews with Rockstar Games and accompanied by 12 new images. The centerpiece: Leonida's weather system and wildlife, with precise numbers announced for the first time. This lands as GTA 6 enters its final 50 days before launching on November 19, 2026.
A weather system built on Red Dead Redemption 2, taken further
According to the developers quoted by Game Informer, Leonida runs a reworked version of the localized, persistent weather system first built for Red Dead Redemption 2:
- Localized weather: the sky is no longer the same across the whole map. One area can be sunny while another, a few miles away, gets hit by a downpour.
- Fully dynamic clouds, paired with a wind system that lifts debris off rooftops, ripples water surfaces, and lays down marsh grass.
- Tropical storms and hurricanes confirmed, with heavy rain, wind, thunder and lightning — a first for the series at this scale.
Rockstar presents the system as a core pillar of Leonida's atmosphere, designed to make the state feel as changeable as a real subtropical region.
Over 170 animal species confirmed in Leonida
Rockstar gave a precise figure on the game's wildlife for the first time: more than 170 animal species, including:
| Category | Confirmed detail |
|---|---|
| Birds | More than 60 species |
| Land mammals | More than 30 species |
| Species named by Rockstar | Manatees, flamingos, pelicans, alligators |
| Other | Various fish and reptiles |
This density of wildlife, well above what GTA V had, fits the logic of a more alive world already glimpsed in what's different between GTA 6 and GTA V.
In-depth research on Florida
The feature also details Rockstar's method: an on-the-ground research phase in Florida and Miami, aimed at delivering, in the studio's own words, "the most culturally and aesthetically accurate and lifelike world" it has ever recreated. The 12 new images published by Game Informer show hunting scenes, storms in progress, and several of the species above in action across Leonida.
For now, these details are limited to what Game Informer and Rockstar chose to show: no full wildlife list or technical breakdown of the weather engine has been published.
Frequently asked questions
How many animal species are in GTA 6?
Rockstar has announced more than 170 species in Leonida, including over 60 birds and over 30 land mammals, with alligators, manatees, flamingos and pelicans named specifically.
Does GTA 6 have hurricanes?
Yes. Rockstar has confirmed tropical storms and hurricanes as part of Leonida's dynamic weather system, revealed in Game Informer's September 29, 2026 cover feature.
Is GTA 6's weather system the same as GTA V's?
No. Rockstar starts from the system built for Red Dead Redemption 2 and reworked it to be localized: weather can differ from one part of the map to another at the same moment.
Where can I see the new GTA 6 images?
The 12 images are part of the Game Informer issue released on September 29, 2026; several specialist outlets (including Actugaming and Xboxygen) republished them the same day.
With 50 days to go, Rockstar keeps revealing Leonida piece by piece: after vehicles and the soundtrack, it's weather and wildlife's turn. Nothing points to a new delay: the November 19, 2026 date stands unchanged.
