It's not a conspiracy theory; Game Informer’s latest GTA 6 issue confirms that Rockstar Games can, indeed, control the weather – and they’re pretty good at it too. That’s right, a new, completely re-hauled dynamic weather system, the existence of which has been much rumored during GTA 6’s development, is indeed real and coming to the game when it launches on November 19th. And, naturally, it’s as state-of-the-art as they come.
Rain, Rain, Come and Stay!
In the Game Informer story, Rockstar’s senior associate editor, Marcus Stewart, explained how GTA 6’s “re-engineered” weather system aims to create a never-before-seen sense of scale. One feature of this dynamic system is “persistent weather”, which adds depth to weather events like rain by having storms leave puddles and wet surfaces behind in their wake.
Speaking of storms, Leonida will also experience strong weather events, including tropical storms and hurricanes, that can be localized to a given area of the map. Dynamically shifting cloudscapes, thunder, lightning, and even rainbows are on the table as well.
All of this technical wizardry is in service of imitating the wild weather shifts of Florida, where the game is based on. Rockstar are no strangers to creating incredibly beautiful landscapes and cinematic in-game moments, but time will only tell how many gorgeous vistas GTA 6 can cook up with this advanced system.
Monkeys, Flamingos, and Gators – Oh, My!
But wait, that’s not all! There are animals too! Rockstar is keeping steady with its track record of including heaps of diverse wildlife for the player to interact with GTA 6. And this is great news! I mean, who among us didn’t spend hours in Red Dead Redemption 2 tracking down little bunnies, birds, and beavers just so you can doodle them in a little notebook?
Well, fans of fauna will rejoice that this time around, it seems that Rockstar will also be incorporating an animal system similar to RDR2’s, allowing players to interact with exotic critters, including monkeys, pelicans, flamingos, and, of course, alligators.
As of now, we know there will be over 30 different land mammals and 60 unique birds in GTA 6. Why did I specify land mammals? Well that's because scuba-diving is making a return as well, so there will be even more wildlife and secrets to uncover in the murky depths of the Leonida Keys. In total, the game will include at least 170 unique animal species, including discoverable animals and hard-to-find Legendary-ranked animals that players will be able to track down. Who needs a zoo membership when you have video games?
It’s The Little Things
If these teased systems tell us anything about GTA 6, it’s that Rockstar is still one of the most detail-oriented developers in the game – pun intended. Case in point: without even having the full game in their hands, fans have already been floored by everything from the sweat on characters’ bodies from the hot & humid Leonida air to the hyper-realistic hair on minor NPCs to the realistic sound of a trunk slamming.
And while you’re looking forward to immersing yourself in Leonida, why not get a head start on setting the mood with the Pacific Skyline Wireless Controller? Its gorgeous pink pastel color, palm tree silhouettes, and illuminated city skyline will transport you straight to the beach at sunset (without a drop of rain in sight).
