Rockstar Games conducted research trips across Florida alongside gang members and police officers as part of development work on GTA 6, according to IGN. The outlet reported the fieldwork on Monday, October 5, 2026.
The reported trips point to the studio's effort to ground the game's setting in real-world detail. GTA 6 is set in a fictional Florida-inspired state, and the research described by IGN involved people drawn from very different corners of the region.
Separately, coverage of the game has focused on its release path and content. One report noted that GTA 6 has received clearance in Saudi Arabia with a 21+ age rating. Another looked at the animals featured in the game, listing species from turtles to cheetahs. A further report examined how Rockstar has described the game's open world.
Attention has also turned to the awards circuit. One outlet raised the question of whether GTA 6 could lose its shot at a game of the year prize at an upcoming ceremony, given the timing of its release relative to the eligibility window.
What to watch next: whether Rockstar confirms any details of its Florida research, and how the game's rating and release timing affect its awards eligibility.
