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Rockstar's first proper look at GTA 6 city gameplay came on August 27, 2026, when "An Extended Look" premiered on Netflix and then YouTube. It showed Jason and Lucia moving through Vice City and wider Leonida: switching between the two, teaming up in missions, changing outfits on the fly, and taking time out for activities like scuba diving, basketball and street racing. Here's what was shown, and what's still unconfirmed.
Key Takeaways
- Rockstar's Extended Look premiered August 27, 2026 on Netflix, then on YouTube and Rockstar's site.
- You can switch between Jason and Lucia, and some missions have them working together.
- An outfit wheel lets you change clothes, hats, glasses and face coverings on the fly.
- Activities shown include scuba diving, jet skiing, basketball, dirt biking, weightlifting and street racing.
- Rockstar hasn't published a full performance breakdown, so frame-rate claims are unconfirmed.
What Rockstar Showed in the Extended Look
The Extended Look was a long gameplay showcase rather than a traditional trailer. It premiered on Netflix at 3 p.m. ET on August 27 and went up on YouTube and Rockstar's site at 9 p.m. ET the same day. For the first time, players could watch extended stretches of play instead of cinematic cuts.
Our September update roundup covers the release itself. This article focuses on what it tells us about how Vice City plays.
Switching Between Jason and Lucia
GTA 6 is built around two leads, and the Extended Look showed you swapping between them during play. Some missions have them cooperating directly. One example showed one character driving while the other fired at pursuing police.
That's a change from GTA V, where Michael, Franklin and Trevor mostly lived separate lives. Here, the relationship is the centre of the game, and the gameplay reflects it.
Life in the City: Activities and Downtime
The showcase spent real time on things you do between missions. Activities shown included:
- Scuba diving and jet skiing along the coast
- Basketball
- Dirt biking
- Weightlifting
- Street racing
Rockstar also showed an on-screen angel icon appearing when Jason did something kind, like petting a dog, which suggests your behaviour is being tracked in some way. Rockstar hasn't explained exactly what it affects yet.
Outfits, Disguises and Staying Under the Radar
A new wheel menu, similar to the weapon wheel, lets you change outfits, hats, sunglasses and face coverings without visiting a store. It's a small feature with obvious uses in a crime game: change your look after a job and you're harder to identify.
Hands-on coverage after the showcase reported that police respond to what witnesses and cameras actually see, rather than knowing instantly about every crime. We'll treat the finer details as unconfirmed until Rockstar explains the system itself.
What About Performance and Frame Rate?
The Extended Look was presented as captured in-engine on a base PS5, but Rockstar hasn't published a performance breakdown for each console. Analysis of the footage suggests a 30fps target, and there's been plenty of speculation about PS5 Pro modes. None of it is official. If frame rate matters to you, wait for launch reviews and technical analysis.
Where the City Gameplay Fits on the Map
Most of the Extended Look took place in and around Vice City, with trips out to the coast and wetlands. If you want to place what you saw, our Vice City region page and interactive map mark locations from official footage. Add anything that caught your eye to My checklist for launch day.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was GTA 6's gameplay shown?
Rockstar's Extended Look premiered on Netflix on August 27, 2026, then on YouTube and Rockstar's site that evening.
Can you switch characters in GTA 6?
Yes. The Extended Look showed switching between Jason and Lucia, and missions where they work together.
What activities are in GTA 6?
Activities shown include scuba diving, jet skiing, basketball, dirt biking, weightlifting and street racing.
Does GTA 6 run at 60fps?
Rockstar hasn't confirmed frame rates. Analysis of the Extended Look points to 30fps on base consoles, but that's not official.
Is the Extended Look a trailer?
It's a longer gameplay showcase rather than a standard trailer. A Trailer 3 hasn't been released.