The Silence is Finally Broken
It has been months since Rockstar Games went dark. After the heartbreaking delay announcement last year that pushed Grand Theft Auto VI out of the 2025 window, fans have been starving for info.
Today, the drought might be over.
A massive data dump from a reliable industry insider (who previously predicted the Project Americas shift) has hit the forums. It reveals two massive details that change everything: a Secondary Map Location separate from Leonida, and a concrete November 2026 release date.
If these leaks are true, the scale of this game is even bigger than we imagined.
The Map: Welcome to “Isla de Leon” (Cuba)
We knew Vice City (Leonida) was the main attraction. But leaks now suggest that the “Project Americas” ambition wasn’t fully scrapped—just repurposed.
According to the files, players will be able to travel to a second, smaller landmass called “Isla de Leon”.
- The Vibe: Heavily inspired by Cuba/Havana in the 1980s and modern day.
- The Gameplay: This isn’t just a backdrop. The leak suggests it will feature a “Drug Smuggling” mechanic where Lucia and Jason must fly planes or navigate boats across international waters, dodging Coast Guard patrols in real-time.
- No Loading Screens: Thanks to the PS5 Pro and PC SSDs, the transition between Vice City and the Island is reportedly seamless. No cutscenes. Just ocean.
This explains why the game was delayed. Building two functioning ecosystems is a monumental task.
Carcer City: A Prologue?
The leak also mentions assets for “Carcer City” (the setting of Rockstar’s Manhunt). Speculation is running wild that the game’s prologue might take place here, showing Jason’s darker past before he arrives in the neon-soaked streets of Vice City. It would provide a gritty, industrial contrast to the sunny beaches of Leonida.
The Date: Mark Your Calendars for November 19
The most painful part of the leak is the date. While we hoped for a Spring 2026 surprise, the internal documents point to a November 19, 2026 release target.
- Why November? Rockstar historically loves the holiday window. It maximizes sales for the Christmas season.
- Is it final? The leak tags this date as “Gold Master Target.” Unless a catastrophic bug is found, this is it. We are less than 10 months away.
Why This Makes Sense
Take this with a grain of salt, as Rockstar has not commented. However, the timeline fits.
- Marketing Machine: Expect “Trailer 3” to drop in May 2026, focusing on the story and revealing the island location to build hype for the final stretch.
- Pre-Orders: Likely to go live alongside the next trailer.
Conclusion: Time to Upgrade?
If GTA VI is truly rendering two massive landmasses without loading screens, your old hardware might struggle. This confirms that the game is being built with the PS5 Pro and high-end PCs in mind. If you haven’t upgraded your GPU yet, you have until November to get ready.
What do you think? Is a second island enough to justify the delay to late 2026? Let us know on X (Twitter).
