GTA 6 won't have Disney World or SeaWorld, but it will have 170+ animal species

Rockstar has confirmed that GTA 6's fictionalized Florida — called Leonida — won't include exact replicas of real-world theme parks like Disney World, SeaWorld, or Universal Studios. The studio addressed the question directly in a Game Informer cover story, with senior VP of environment art Paul MacPherson explaining that every location has to earn its place in the game.

MacPherson's quote is worth reading in full: "We have to constantly evaluate the diversity of landscapes, towns, structures, landmarks, vistas, plant species, rock formations and everything else before we work with design and narrative to distill a list down that best works with and serves the game's needs. So, while we may not have those exact locations, everything we have is geared to getting that full Florida experience." The game will feature a zoo, and wildlife is a major system — GTA 6 includes over 170 species of animals, among them rare and legendary breeds that players can study. Rockstar also confirmed the team spent significant time doing on-the-ground research in Florida, including visits to strip clubs and nightclubs.

The decision to skip the big theme parks isn't surprising from a design standpoint. GTA 5 had a Venice Beach-style pier with a rollercoaster and ferris wheel, but it was a one-and-done attraction that didn't hold up to repeat visits. Dedicating serious development resources to a full theme park recreation — especially one tied to real IP — would be a tough sell when the payoff is limited. Rockstar's wildlife ambitions, by contrast, look far more integrated into actual gameplay: Polygon notes the animal system could push beyond what Red Dead Redemption 2 managed, which set a high bar for open-world fauna.

No release date has been attached to these details, but the Game Informer cover story signals Rockstar is moving into a more open phase of promotion for GTA 6. The 170-plus animal count and the zoo confirmation are among the more concrete world-building details to surface so far.