New to GTA VI — or GTA in general? This is your starting point.
Information below is based on confirmed details and general GTA series knowledge. Mechanic-specific guides will be added after GTA VI launches on November 19, 2026.
GTA VI is set in the State of Leonida — a fictional Florida featuring Vice City, a massive Miami-inspired metropolis, plus four surrounding counties. It is the largest map in GTA history.
For the first time in GTA, the story follows a duo: Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval. Both are playable throughout the game — you can switch between them at key points in the story.
GTA VI has a full single-player story (Story Mode) and a separate multiplayer world (GTA Online). You don't need to play online to finish the story. Online is entirely optional.
Offline single-player. Follow Lucia and Jason through a scripted narrative. No other real players. Best for beginners — you learn the world at your own pace.
Online multiplayer with real players. Complete missions, run businesses, join heists, or free roam. More chaotic — other players can attack you unless you use a private lobby or passive mode.
Start with Story Mode. It teaches driving, shooting, and how the world works before you go online. Most players finish at least the prologue before touching GTA Online.
Commit crimes and police will pursue you. Stars (1–5) indicate your wanted level. Higher stars = more aggressive response. Losing your wanted level means outrunning or hiding from police until the radius clears.
The game autosaves frequently. You can also save manually at a safehouse (sleep in a bed). Don't worry about losing progress — checkpoints are generous.
GTA$ (in-game currency) is earned from missions, heists, side activities, and businesses. You spend it on weapons, vehicles, properties, and upgrades. There is no need to spend real money.
If you die (shown as "Wasted"), you respawn at a hospital with a small medical fee deducted. You don't lose story progress. Weapons and vehicles are retained.
The game's opening missions teach driving, shooting, and switching between characters. Don't skip them — they unlock gameplay systems progressively.
The bottom-left radar shows mission objectives (yellow/green markers), police pursuit radius (flashing), and nearby threats. Glancing at it constantly is a core GTA skill.
GTA VI's world is designed for exploration. Between missions, drive around, discover landmarks, interact with NPCs, and learn the map. There is no penalty for going off-script.
New players who jump straight to GTA Online often get overwhelmed by experienced players. Finish some Story Mode first to get comfortable with the controls and mechanics.