Grand Theft Auto VI is almost here. What to know about the characters,
music and billions at stake
[November 10, 2026]
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Grand Theft Auto has never been much for following
the rules.
Nearly three decades after a video game built around stealing cars,
outrunning police and embracing criminal mayhem first arrived, the
franchise has survived controversy, transformed open-world gaming and
become one of the biggest sellers in entertainment.
Now, after a 13-year wait since its last main installment, Grand Theft
Auto VI is preparing for another big score. The latest chapter arrives
Nov. 19 with a return to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City with two
protagonists.
For longtime fans, GTA VI is a highly anticipated return. For everyone
else, here’s what to know about the blockbuster video game, its
characters and the enormous business riding on its release:
Why is Grand Theft Auto such a big deal?
The franchise began in 1997 as a relatively simple, top-down game that
allowed players to roam fictional cities, steal vehicles, evade police
and commit crimes.
The release of Grand Theft Auto III in 2001 helped redefine open-world
gaming. It gave players greater freedom to explore a sprawling
three-dimensional city, pursue missions and interact with their
surroundings.
Later installments expanded that freedom with larger environments,
cinematic storytelling, social satire and detailed worlds. The influence
reached far beyond games about stealing cars.
Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series brought open-world exploration to
historical settings, while Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls games expanded
their own longstanding tradition of open-ended fantasy role-playing.
Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild later emphasized
experimentation and discovery, allowing players to use the environment
itself to solve problems.
For Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar Games
recruited real-life gang members to help bring authenticity to
background characters and dialogue. Former writer and audio director
Lazlow Jones has said some performers challenged scripted lines,
prompting developers to let them use language drawn from their own
experiences.
That attention to detail helped create the sense of a living world that
became a hallmark of the franchise, even as the series drew criticism
for its depictions of violence, crime and women.
But controversy did not stop the franchise’s commercial rise.
According to publisher Take-Two Interactive, the franchise has sold more
than 470 million units worldwide. Grand Theft Auto V, released in 2013,
accounts for more than 230 million of those units and reached $1 billion
in retail sales in just three days.
Its online multiplayer component, Grand Theft Auto Online, has helped
keep players engaged through years of updates, new activities and
in-game purchases.
What is the story behind Grand Theft Auto VI?
This time, the action returns to Vice City, Rockstar’s fictional version
of Miami, and expands across the surrounding state of Leonida, a
Florida-inspired setting filled with beaches, highways, nightlife and
criminal enterprises.
At the center are Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval, a couple trying to
improve their circumstances through a life of crime. Lucia has recently
been released from prison while Jason, a former soldier who became
involved with drug runners in the Leonida Keys, is looking for a
different path.
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A billboard for the video game "Grand Theft Auto VI" is pictured
above Hollywood Blvd. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Los Angeles.
(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
 Their plans become more complicated
when a seemingly straightforward criminal job goes wrong, drawing
them into a conspiracy that stretches across Leonida.
The trailers suggest a story mixing romance, robberies, betrayals
and the series’ familiar satirical take on American culture.
Rockstar has revealed several supporting characters, including bank
robber Raul Bautista, aspiring music executive Dre’Quan Priest and
nightclub owner Boobie Ike.
Who is in the cast?
Rockstar has kept much of the voice cast under wraps, including the
performers behind Lucia and Jason.
One familiar actor has confirmed his involvement: Stephen Root,
known for his work in “Office Space,” “King of the Hill” and
“Barry.” He told The Associated Press in September that he appears
in the game, adding that fans had already recognized his distinctive
voice in promotional footage.
Root has been identified in reports as the voice of Brian Heder, an
aging drug runner operating out of the Leonida Keys. Rockstar has
introduced the character but has not publicly confirmed Root’s
casting in that specific role.
What makes this installment different?
Beyond the return to Vice City, one of the biggest changes is the
focus on two protagonists whose relationship drives the story.
Grand Theft Auto V featured three playable main characters. The new
installment centers on Lucia and Jason as partners navigating the
criminal underworld together.
Rockstar has promoted a larger, more detailed setting that stretches
beyond the city into the wider state of Leonida. The game also
arrives in a vastly different technological landscape from its
predecessor, with newer consoles capable of supporting more
elaborate environments and character interactions.
But not every detail is known. Rockstar has offered trailers and
promotional previews, while questions remain about the full range of
activities, how the game’s systems will work and the future of its
online multiplayer experience.
What about the music?
Music has long been part of Grand Theft Auto’s identity. It has
included everything from fictional radio stations to the songs
accompanying players as they cruise through the game’s cities.
Grand Theft Auto VI is expanding that tradition with an original
score by Justice, the Grammy-winning French electronic duo of
Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay.
Rockstar says the score adapts to players’ actions and experiences
throughout the game, shifting with the environments and situations
they encounter.
A 30-track score album is scheduled for Dec. 11, featuring
collaborations with artists including Tame Impala, SZA, King Gizzard
& The Lizard Wizard and Gesaffelstein.
The game also features in-game radio stations and a separate
collection of original songs, continuing the franchise’s connection
to popular music.
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