Edge's GTA 6 feature: map opens early, ‘an order of magnitude more interiors’
The Edge cover story is now public. Here is what Rockstar's Aaron Garbut and the studio said, and what is still unconfirmed.
Edge's GTA 6 cover story is now public, and it says Leonida's map opens up "relatively early", so players can head north and explore without having to follow the story. Rockstar co-studio head Aaron Garbut also says the map holds "an order of magnitude more interiors" than the studio's earlier games, according to PC Gamer and IGN, who report on Edge issue #430 (published October 29, 2026).
This follows our earlier note on the Edge cover story, when no details were out.
What the feature reports
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Edge watched an unscripted, roughly 90-minute play-through at Rockstar North, Edinburgh | Reported (Edge, relayed by outlets) |
| The map opens up relatively early; players can explore north without following the story | Reported (Edge, IGN) |
| Some introductory story sections may come first | Reported (IGN) |
| "An order of magnitude more interiors" than earlier Rockstar games | Quote attributed to Aaron Garbut (PC Gamer) |
| Garbut still finds locations he had not seen, after years of work | Reported (IGN) |
| NPCs were art-directed, with around 600,000 animations and personality traits | Reported (PC Gamer) |
| Players can visit most of Leonida at release, including more interiors | Reported (Notebookcheck) |
Map size: handle with care
PC Gamer's headline says the map is almost as big as Rockstar's last three games combined. Other outlets word the comparison differently, and Rockstar has published no official size in square miles or kilometres. We list the size as not official. See our Leonida map and characters guide for what is confirmed.
NPCs that react
According to PC Gamer's reading of the feature, the studio art-directed its NPCs, building around 600,000 animations, and gave them traits that take demographic and professional factors into account. That means people on the street should behave differently by who they are, not just where they stand. The report does not give gameplay numbers, so we can't say how visible this is in play.
What it means
The big takeaway for players is pacing: the Edge report suggests you won't be locked into one area for hours. Combined with the Bloomberg report on interiors, it points to a world built for wandering. None of this is a Rockstar announcement; it is press coverage of a studio visit. Launch is November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with pre-load from November 12. See the release date hub.
MAX WANTED is an independent fan site and is not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two.
FAQ
Is the whole GTA 6 map open from the start?
Not exactly. Edge reports that the map opens up “relatively early”, letting players explore without following the story. IGN adds that some introductory story sections may come first.
How many interiors does GTA 6 have?
No number has been given. Rockstar's Aaron Garbut says there are “an order of magnitude more interiors” than in earlier Rockstar games.
How big is the GTA 6 map?
Outlets describe it as almost as big as Rockstar's last three games combined, but outlets report the comparison differently and Rockstar has published no official size in square miles.
When does GTA 6 come out?
November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Sources
- PC Gamer — GTA 6's map is almost as big as Rockstar's last 3 games combined (Oct 29, 2026)
- PC Gamer — GTA 6's NPCs have about 600,000 animations (Oct 29, 2026)
- IGN — GTA 6's Map Will Open Up Relatively Early and Let You Explore Freely (Oct 29, 2026)
- Notebookcheck — GTA 6 map is bigger than thought, with more interiors (Oct 29, 2026)
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