Grand Theft Auto VI will have more than 170 animal species, plus a weather system with localized storms, tropical storms and seasonal hurricanes, Rockstar Games told Game Informer for its cover story. The issue went live for subscribers on September 29, 2026.
The 14-page feature is built on new developer interviews with Rockstar and includes 12 exclusive screenshots. Most of it sits behind Game Informer’s subscription, but the outlet published two free excerpts the same day, and those are what we report here.
The Wildlife
Game Informer says Leonida, the game’s version of Florida, “will teem with over 170 animal species across land, air, and sea, several of which have never appeared in a Rockstar Game.” The list mixes Florida’s natives and its invaders:
- Native animals: flamingos, manatees, pelicans and alligators.
- Invasive species: green iguanas, cane toads, feral cats and rhesus macaque monkeys.
Rockstar is building on its Red Dead Redemption work here. Game Informer describes animals with iridescence, bioluminescence, translucency and different feather types, plus new hair and fur systems for coats and pelts.
You will also be able to track certain animals classed as Rare, Discoverable and Legendary. Rockstar is keeping those animals’ identities secret for now.
The Weather
In its weather excerpt, Game Informer lists what Rockstar confirmed:
- Dynamic cloudscapes rolling across Leonida, from clear skies to overcast days.
- Localized storms, so you can stand in the sun and watch rain pour down somewhere else.
- Persistent wet surfaces: drive into an area after a storm and the puddles show it just rained.
- Rainbows after a fresh shower, in the right light.
- Tropical storms and seasonal hurricanes.
What the free excerpts don’t say is how often hurricanes hit or how they affect missions and driving. Game Informer says as much: “we don’t know how often these larger, more violent storms occur or how they affect gameplay and storytelling.”
What This Means for Players
The Legendary animal tracking is the detail to watch. It sounds like a GTA version of Red Dead Redemption 2’s legendary hunts, where tracking and clean kills mattered. Our guide to getting perfect pelts in Red Dead Redemption 2 shows how deep that system went, though Rockstar hasn’t said whether GTA VI copies any of it.
If you want the full cover story, our guide to buying Game Informer’s GTA 6 issue covers the digital and print options. For merch, our story on Rockstar’s $399.99 collector’s box explains why it doesn’t include the game. Every other guide is on our GTA hub.
When and Where
Grand Theft Auto VI launches November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, per Rockstar’s official page. The digital issue is available now to Game Informer subscribers. Print copies go to subscribers in the US and, Game Informer says, 52 other countries.
Source: Rockstar Games, interviewed by Game Informer for its GTA VI cover story, September 29, 2026.