GTA 6 - Map leaks

The gaming world has seen many ambitious projects, but nothing quite compares to the dedication of the Grand Theft Auto VI mapping community. For over three years, a group of dedicated fans, data analysts, and digital cartographers has been working on a project that seems almost impossible: mapping out the entire state of Leonida before Rockstar Games even releases a second trailer. With an estimated accuracy of 95% to 98%, this unofficial map is more than just a fan drawing—it is a masterpiece of modern digital forensics.

The project’s journey began in September 2022, following one of the most significant leaks in entertainment history. While many focused on the gameplay footage of characters like Lucia and Jason, the mapping community looked at something much more technical: the black bars at the bottom of the leaked footage. These bars contained "Rage Engine" coordinates. These numbers aren’t just random digits; they use the International System of Units (meters). By using these exact spatial data points, the community was able to establish a foundational grid system. By placing markers at specific leaked locations and using complex triangulation methods, they created the first accurate border outlines of the map. This mathematical approach is what separates this project from mere speculation.

The accuracy of the GTA VI map has evolved dramatically alongside the official information released by Rockstar. In September 2022, the project started with roughly 30-40% accuracy based on leaked coordinates. By December 2023, after the release of the first official trailer, accuracy jumped to 70-80% as city details and coastlines were confirmed. As of late 2025, the community estimates the map is now reaching a staggering 98% precision. This progression follows the same pattern as the GTA V mapping project, which famously achieved 95% accuracy before that game launched, proving that the community’s methods are highly reliable.

This is a massive collaborative effort involving over 16,000 members. Key contributors have specialized roles. Some, like Yanis, lead the version that incorporates elevation markers and refined coastlines. Others, like Rick Rick, specialize in street-level precision, placing individual buildings and roads in Vice City with surgical accuracy. One contributor even created a 1:1 scale implementation within the GTA V engine to test travel times. His work showed that it takes approximately 6 minutes and 10 seconds to cross the GTA VI map at high speed, compared to only 3 minutes and 30 seconds for the previous game.

To fill in the gaps between the leaked coordinates and trailer footage, mappers use "Real-World Cross-Referencing." Since Rockstar is known for its fidelity to real-world geography, the team uses Google Earth data from Miami and the Florida Keys. But it goes even deeper. Mappers measure the length and angle of building shadows seen in the trailers to determine the height and orientation of structures. Every road sign, mountain peak, and distant silhouette is analyzed frame by frame. The community created 4K renders of every single frame of the trailer to ensure no detail was missed.

Based on these meticulous analyses, several key areas are now confirmed. Vice City is the crown jewel of the map, matching Miami's geography but with Rockstar’s creative touch. The Leonida Keys are also precisely positioned, including the iconic long bridges. New locations like Ambrosia, Watson Bay, Port Gellhorn, and Mount Kalaga have been integrated using triangulation. The current data suggests that the state of Leonida will be approximately 70% larger than the map of Los Santos in GTA V. The distance from the Southern Keys to Northern Vice City measures about 14.54 km, making it a massive world to explore.

It hasn't all been smooth sailing for these fans. The community faces two main obstacles. First, the northern regions remain speculative. Maps represent these areas with orange outlines to signify they are educated guesses rather than confirmed data. Second, there is the issue of legal pressure. Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two Interactive, has been aggressive in shutting down some of these fan projects, especially those that try to make the map playable in other engines. This has limited the community's ability to show the map in a playable format, but it hasn't stopped the drawing and calculating process.

The GTA VI mapping project represents a shift in how fans interact with upcoming media. It is no longer just about waiting for a release date; it is about community coordination on a global scale. By the time the game actually launches, players will likely already know the shortcuts, the landmarks, and the layout of the world, all thanks to the thousands of hours of work put in by volunteers. As we approach the official release, the "unofficial" map stands as a testament to human curiosity and the power of collaborative data analysis. Whether you are a casual fan or a hardcore gamer, the map of Leonida is a reminder that sometimes, the journey to the game is just as exciting as the game itself.