12 new GTA 6 screenshots: Weather and wildlife raise hopes for RDR2-like open world

As part of its September 29 cover story, “Grand Theft Auto VI – Welcome to Leonida,” Game Informer has released twelve new GTA 6 screenshots that reveal a much greener side of Leonida. Full access to the coverage is reserved for subscribers, however. A digital subscription currently costs around $90 per year, while the option that also includes the print magazine is priced at roughly $140 annually.

The new images feature coastal landscapes, wilderness, wildlife, aircraft and ominous storm clouds. For its cover story, Game Informer spoke directly with Rockstar and obtained a wealth of new details about the game world, gameplay and technology – and the revelations are already generating plenty of discussion on Reddit.

The mood in the accompanying Reddit thread is almost euphoric. Leonida’s sprawling natural landscapes remind many fans of Red Dead Redemption 2, raising hopes that Rockstar is aiming for more than simply a bigger, prettier GTA 5. Instead, some are hoping GTA 6 will combine the freedom of GTA’s traditional sandbox with the rich detail and immersive world of Red Dead Redemption 2.

The screenshots themselves have drawn some criticism for their low resolution and heavy compression, but that does not seem to have dampened the excitement. Four of the twelve new images can already be seen on Reddit:

Dynamic weather and more than 170 animal species

The revamped weather system is attracting particular attention. GTA 6 (available for pre-order on Amazon) is said to feature localized, dynamic weather, allowing sunshine in one part of the map while a storm rages just a few miles away. Tropical storms and hurricanes have also been confirmed, with wind visibly affecting vegetation, water, hair and loose objects throughout the environment.

Reddit users are already imagining the possibilities, from flying straight into a hurricane to experimenting with how lightning and severe weather affect the world around them.

Leonida’s wildlife is generating just as much excitement. The state is said to be home to more than 170 animal species, including over 60 bird species and more than 30 land mammals. Confirmed wildlife includes alligators, flamingos, sharks, whales, rays and even rhesus macaques. Some species are also expected to be particularly rare – another detail that has inevitably drawn comparisons with RDR2