Rockstar Games appears to be taking wildlife to another level with GTA 6, with more than 170 animal species reportedly appearing throughout Leonida.
The fictional state is heavily inspired by Florida, meaning beaches, wetlands, cities, islands, and rural areas will all play a role in shaping the world. However, Rockstar isn’t stopping at recreating the locations. Leonida’s wildlife could become an important part of making the state feel alive.
According to information shared in a recent Game Informer interview, GTA 6 will feature more than 170 different animal species. Several of these creatures have never appeared in a Rockstar open-world game before.
GTA 6 wildlife will be everywhere
Florida has one of the most recognizable ecosystems in the United States, and Rockstar has plenty of wildlife to work with when recreating it as Leonida.
Confirmed animals reportedly include:
- Flamingos
- Manatees
- Pelicans
- Alligators
- Green iguanas
- Cane toads
- Feral cats
- Rhesus macaque monkeys
The list contains both native wildlife and invasive species found in Florida.
That last part could make Leonida particularly interesting. Rockstar isn’t simply filling the wilderness with generic animals. The studio appears to be recreating some of the unusual wildlife that has become associated with Florida itself.
And yes, apparently GTA 6 is finally giving Rockstar players monkeys.
More than 170 animal species is a huge jump
The reported number is especially impressive when considering the different environments available across Leonida.
Animals won’t necessarily be restricted to remote wilderness areas. Pelicans and other birds could populate beaches and coastal towns, while alligators and other creatures could appear throughout the wetlands.
Manatees also give Rockstar a reason to populate Leonida’s waterways with more than boats and NPCs.
Meanwhile, animals such as feral cats and iguanas could potentially appear much closer to populated areas.
Having more than 170 species gives Rockstar enough variety to make each part of the map feel different rather than simply recycling the same handful of animals everywhere.
Red Dead Redemption 2 already showed what Rockstar can do
Rockstar has plenty of experience building detailed wildlife systems.
Red Dead Redemption 2 featured a huge selection of animals alongside surprisingly complex behavior. Predators hunted other animals, birds reacted to the environment, carcasses decomposed, and different species occupied specific habitats.
Wildlife wasn’t simply decoration. It became another layer of the open world.
GTA 6 now gives Rockstar an opportunity to expand those systems within a completely different setting.
Leonida includes cities, beaches, swamps, oceans, islands, and rural areas. That diversity could allow Rockstar to create an ecosystem considerably different from the wilderness of Red Dead Redemption 2.
Leonida could feel more alive than any previous GTA map
Animals might sound like a relatively small feature compared with cars, weapons, missions, and the enormous cities expected in GTA 6. However, details like these are often what make Rockstar’s worlds convincing.
Driving through a swamp becomes more interesting when an alligator can appear nearby. Beaches feel more believable with birds overhead, while waterways populated by marine animals can make exploring by boat considerably more interesting.
Even seeing an iguana running through an urban area could add something to the atmosphere.
With more than 170 animal species reportedly included, wildlife could become one of the biggest environmental upgrades GTA 6 brings to the series.
Rockstar already demonstrated with Red Dead Redemption 2 that it can build an impressive virtual ecosystem.
Now it gets to do the same thing with Florida.
Or rather, Leonida.
And considering the real Florida already has alligators, invasive monkeys, giant iguanas, and countless other creatures running around, Rockstar probably didn’t need to exaggerate much this time.
