Briefing Map & World Published New
What is the GTA VI mapping project? The fan map, graded
A fan effort, running since the 2022 leak, to piece together Leonida's map from leaked coordinates, Rockstar's trailers and screenshots, and Florida's geography. Its Version 16, from September 2026, uses the leaked map image from August and puts the land at about 85.6 km², about 1.7 times GTA V's on the same measure. Rockstar hasn't published a map. Graded: Speculation, Low.
The fan map is the most searched-for picture of GTA VI that Rockstar didn't make. This page doesn't link to it or show it, because its current version is built partly on leaked material.
Verdict: Confirmed: the mapping project is a fan effort, running since the 2022 leak, that pieces Leonida together from leaked coordinates, Rockstar's trailers and screenshots, and Florida's geography. Inference, High confidence: its Version 16 uses August's leaked map image and puts the land at about 85.6 km². Speculation, Low confidence: the released map will match it closely.
The badges on this page rate what the project is, not the map's accuracy.
What is the GTA VI mapping project?
A community of fans who have spent four years drawing the map of Leonida before Rockstar shows it. It began days after the September 2022 leak, when much of the leaked footage showed in-game coordinates. Since then, every Rockstar trailer and screenshot has added landmarks, placed on a coastline borrowed from Florida. The maps mark what the community is sure of and what's guesswork, and they have always mixed in leaked material.
How big is the GTA VI fan map?
About 85.6 km² of land in Version 16, published in September 2026. That's down from nearly 110 km² in Version 15, because the new version leans on the map image posted in the August 2026 leak. On the community's own measure, GTA V's land is just under 50 km², so the fan map makes Leonida about 1.7 times GTA V's. Rockstar's own comparison is roughly twice.
Is the GTA VI mapping project accurate?
In outline, probably; in detail, less so. The coastline and big landmarks are anchored to Rockstar's footage, but road layouts between them are inferred. Version 16 also depends on the August leaked image, and whether that image is genuine GTA VI material is itself a rumour, graded Moderate.
Is the GTA VI fan map official?
No. It's the community's work. Rockstar hasn't published a map of Leonida or a size in square kilometres, only its comparison with GTA V.
When will Rockstar show the GTA VI map?
It hasn't said. Until it does, the fan map is the best guess there is, with the caveats above.
What changes this: an official map from Rockstar, or the game itself on 19 November, which will settle how close four years of fan work came.
Sources
References
Public sources used across this briefing. A source can support several claims and is listed once per role.
Reporting & media
- GameSpot Reputable outlet https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fans-are-constructing-a-gta-6-map-based-on-leaks/1100-6507771/
- GamesRadar+ Reputable outlet https://www.gamesradar.com/games/grand-theft-auto/gta-6-mapping-community-is-already-connecting-the-dots-from-rockstars-new-trailer-to-accurately-draw-the-games-map-a-full-year-in-advance/
- GameSpot Reputable outlet https://www.gamespot.com/articles/interactive-gta-6-map-made-by-fans-highlights-more-than-100-points-of-interest/1100-6531683/
- Notebookcheck Reputable outlet https://www.notebookcheck.net/GTA-6-New-map-shows-Leonida-in-unprecedented-detail-and-smaller-than-expected.1404443.0.html
- GameSpot Reputable outlet https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-leaks-a-timeline-of-the-events-so-far/
- Game Informer Interview https://gameinformer.com/feature/2026/09/29/grand-theft-auto-vi-welcome-to-leonida
- TechRadar (Future plc) Reputable outlet https://www.techradar.com/gaming/five-big-new-details-about-grand-theft-auto-6-map-size-confirmed-170-animal-species-revealed-a-wild-new-dynamic-weather-system-and-more
- VGTimes Reputable outlet https://vgtimes.com/articles/169332-gta-6-game-informer-everything-you-need-to-know.html
- VICE Reputable outlet https://www.vice.com/en/article/all-gta-6-features-game-informer/
- eXputer Reputable outlet https://exputer.com/news/games/game-informer-reveals-new-gta-6-details-on-wildlife-activities-and-weather/
Community & rumor-origin sources
- Rockstar Report Fan site Name-only source — not linked
Evidence
Claim record
This briefing is built on 5 classified public-record claims tracked by Vice Atlas — each one graded on its own, and re-graded as official sources land.
Open the claim record — 5 claims
- Confirmed Very High confidence
Since the September 2022 leak of GTA VI development footage, a fan mapping community has pieced together a map of Leonida, first from in-game coordinates shown in the leaked clips and later also from Rockstar's trailers and screenshots and real Florida geography.
- Confirmed Very High confidence
Rockstar says Leonida is its largest map, roughly twice the size of GTA V's, and denser and more detailed, with more interiors.
- Inference High confidence
Version 16 of the fan map, published in September 2026, uses the leaked map image from August 2026 alongside the Extended Look, and puts Leonida's land area at about 85.6 km², against just under 50 km² for GTA V on the community's own measure.
- Speculation Low confidence
The fan map's overall shape and layout of Leonida will match the released game.
- Rumor Moderate confidence
The full Leonida map image posted in the August 2026 leak is genuine Grand Theft Auto VI development material.
