Description
The first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI was released on December 4, 2023, at around 11 PM (UTC) on Rockstar Games’ official social media channels. Due to the trailer leaking online, Rockstar decided to publish it 15 hours earlier than originally scheduled in their official announcement.
Trailer announcement
On November 8, 2023, Rockstar Games posted on their social media, announcing that the first trailer for the next part
in the Grand Theft Auto series would be released in December 2023.
Here’s the full text of that post:
«We are very excited to let you know that in early December, we will release the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto. We look forward to many more years of sharing these experiences with all of you.»
Later, on December 1, 2023, a photo was published on their social media pages officially confirming the release date for the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer.
It was scheduled for Tuesday, December 5 at 9 AM (ET).
This post quickly gained massive traction and, at the time, became the most popular post ever on
Rockstar Games’ accounts — reaching 225 million views and 1 million likes on X (formerly Twitter), and 6 million likes on Instagram.
Trailer Leak
On December 4, 2023, the first GTA 6 trailer was leaked online nearly a full day before its official premiere. It was uploaded by an unknown user on X (formerly Twitter), with a “BUY BITCOIN” message overlaid on the video — an attempt to manipulate the cryptocurrency’s price for personal gain.
As later revealed, the trailer ended up in his hands after he purchased access to YouTube’s admin panel from a dishonest employee at the video hosting platform.
The leaked video was real but of significantly lower quality, featuring heavy compression artifacts and a low bitrate. Despite this, it spread rapidly across social media before Take-Two began issuing takedown notices en masse.
That same day, Rockstar released the trailer officially — 15 hours ahead of the scheduled time.
Trailer success
Immediately after its release, the first GTA 6 trailer began achieving extraordinary results. Within the first 24 hours, the trailer accumulated over 90 million views and 5 million likes on YouTube, and remained at the top of the Trending tab for quite some time.
After 33 hours, the trailer surpassed the 100 million views mark, outpacing even the first GTA 5 trailer, which over 12 years garnered only 95 million views.
This video became the most popular non-music video on YouTube, reaching the highest number of views within a single day.
Trailer Review
Next in the article will be a breakdown of each frame from this trailer.
Shot 1 - Port Gellhorn
The trailer opens with a beautiful shot of one of the main highways on the outskirts of Port Gellhorn at sunset. We can see a large number of cars, a plane flying in the sky, and the diverse vegetation of the State of Leonida.
Not far from the highway are Government Institutions such as the Leonida Department of Corrections and the Prison Complex, along with a towering TV Tower. In the distance, the mysterious city of Port Gellhorn looms on the horizon.
Not far from the highway are Government Institutions such as the Leonida Department of Corrections and the Prison Complex, along with a towering TV Tower. In the distance, the mysterious city of Port Gellhorn looms on the horizon.
Shot 2 - Prison Complex
The second shot shows a barbed wire fence surrounding the grounds of the Prison Complex.
In the background, we once again see various plants native to the State of Leonida, along with a flock of eight birds flying across the sky.
Shot 3 - Prison Cell
In the third shot, we see one of the main protagonists of GTA 6 — Lucia Armendariz, standing in her cell at the Prison Complex and looking out the window.
We also hear a social worker from the Leonida Department of Corrections — Stefanie — call Lucia by name, prompting Lucia to turn around.
Shot 4 - Stefanie
In the next shot, we see the social worker Stefanie sitting
in her office during a conversation with Lucia.
She asks her:
In Stefanie's office, we can see her photographs, a printer, various plants, and a painting.
Shot 5 - Bad Luck
In the fifth shot, we see the continuation of the previous scene, where Lucia responds to Stefanie's question with:
Behind Lucia, we see a painting depicting Lake Leonida and various mountains.
Shot 6 - Vice City
The next shot reveals breathtaking scenery. It begins with the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean, where we can spot a large number of different watercrafts and a pod of dolphins.
Next, the shot shows the beautiful Vice Beach along the coast of Vice City. We can see a huge number of beachgoers, lifeguard towers, and some rescue vehicles.
Finally, the shot transitions to a panoramic view of Vice City. Up close, there are numerous palm trees and other tropical plants, while in the distance, a stunning array of skyscrapers rises. This shot truly showcases the scale of the metropolis.
We also see a Maverick helicopter flying in the frame, along with a Dodo plane trailing a banner that reads "NINE1NINE."
The shot ends with the intriguing text — Rockstar Games Presents.
Shot 7 - Residental Complex
The next shot showcases a residential complex in Vice City. This building features rather unusual architecture, which makes it attractive to tourists.
The residential complex is located near the sea, as evidenced by the numerous palm trees and luxurious appearance.
Shot 8 - Countryside
The next shot takes us to the countryside. There, we see an airboat cutting across the fields, (*a prototype of which appeared in the game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City).
The area is filled with a mysterious pre-dawn atmosphere, and a few birds are flying around.
Shot 9 - Animals
The ninth shot introduces us to the diversity of fauna in State of Leonida. We find ourselves in a large swampy area, where flamingos fly and dangerous alligators crawl.
In the distance, another flock of birds flies by. This shot showcases the diversity of landscapes in State of Leonida. We can be sure — the countryside in GTA 6 will receive special attention!
Shot 10 - Vice Beach
This shot gives us a closer look at Vice Beach. On this sunny day, we can see a huge crowd of beachgoers in Vice City. All the NPCs are busy with their activities — some are sunbathing, some are running with their dogs, while others are just strolling along the shore.
The sky above the beach is quite lively — we can spot helicopters like Supervolito and Sea Sparrow flying by, as well as a plane in the distance. Additionally, we can see parked rescue vehicles and water scooters like SeaShark.
Shot 11 - Port
The shot shows a large number of boats passing by the port of Vice City.
Once again, a plane can be seen flying in the sky.
This shot clearly shows how much the water quality has improved in GTA 6. Now, the water physics in the game will be much better, and players will be able to enjoy the beautiful and realistic graphics even more.
Shot 12 - Night Trip
This shot shows a nighttime drive of Lucia through the city. We can see some skyscrapers in the background, as well as the stadium building (based on the real stadium Kaseya Center, located in Miami).
We can also see a guy in the car behind filming Lucia on camera.
Shot 13 - Ghetto
In this frame, we can see the vibrant ghetto from the world of Grand Theft Auto VI. Everywhere, we can spot various well-designed cars, as well as a crowd of gangsters.
As is common in such areas, a large number of wires hang overhead, while a police helicopter flies in the sky.
Shot 14 - Strip Club
In this frame, we can see captivating shots from one of the strip clubs.
Nightlife in Vice City will be truly unforgettable!
Shot 15 - Gangsters
In this shot, we can see two gangsters greeting each other in the ghetto.
It seems that in the new part of GTA, gangsters have become real fashion icons!
Shot 16 - Night Vice City
The next shot shows us a beautiful view of twilight Vice City.
In the distance, we see a beautiful business center, a large number of skyscrapers and cars. But what truly amazes is the variety of watercraft moving through the mysterious waters of State of Leonida.
And as usual, in the sky, a plane and a small helicopter are flying by.
Shot 17 - Ocean Drive
This shot shows one of the most famous streets in Vice City and Miami - Ocean Drive. On this street, we can see a huge number of wealthy people and expensive cars, as this street is for the wealthy.
On the other side of the street, we can see the familiar hotels - Ocean View Hotel and Hotel Dixon.
Shot 18 - Night Club
The next shot is again from one of the nightclubs.
We can see great detail in the NPC dance moves, as almost everyone performs their individual movements.
Shot 19 - Gator Keys
The next shot shows us the bridge leading to the settlement Gator Keys. The unusual structure of small islands in the middle of the water immediately catches the eye.
You can spot a flying plane Dodo, as well as a large amount of watercraft.
Shot 20 - Lucia in Bikini
The next frame shows Lucia in a swimsuit, relaxing by the pool in one of the penthouses in Vice City.
Behind Lucia, we can again see a helicopter flying by, as well as the stunning architecture of Vice City.
Shot 21 - Vice
The next frame shows us the huge letters VICE against the beautiful sunset sky.
Similar architectural element appeared in Grand Theft Auto 5, where similar letters spelled out the word VINEWOOD.
Shot 22 - Yacht Party
From the next scene in the trailer, we begin to see short video clips from social media platforms featuring the State of Leonida.
The first video shows a yacht party. The clip was posted by a user named @DadBodSquad with the caption:
«Ay Papi! Save some sugar baby for the rest of us!»
In the background, another plane is flying by, and several office buildings can be seen.
Shot 23 - Crocodile in the pool
The next video was posted by a user named @OfficialPOACH. He added the caption: «Stay Alert VC! Remember to check for uninvited guests before the pool party.»
The video shows a man trying to chase away a crocodile that ended up in a residential pool.
The video is based on a real viral clip from
Miami, where a man similarly tries to get a crocodile out of his home pool.
Shot 24 - Twerking
The next interesting video shows a voluptuous Black woman twerking on the roof of a moving car. The video is based on a real viral video from Miami, with the same storyline.
The video was posted by a user with the username @have.a.vice.day, and he captioned it: «Someone call the department of transport on this dumptruck 👀 #have.a.vice.day»
Shot 25 - Drift
Car meets will once again become an important part of GTA 6. In this scene, we see a large gathering of car enthusiasts, girls dancing on car roofs, and an intriguing nighttime atmosphere.
The world of State of Leonida offers opportunities to fulfill all your car fantasies!
Shot 26 - Bloggers
The next scene takes us back to social media. This time, it features a video of two influencers dancing with the night lights of Vice City in the background.
We can also see a large number of comments left by users under this video!
@zaza_nugget writes: «The best song right now! 🔥 Long Time coming - We really outcheaaa!»
@Shaneycee writes: «🔥 Ayo catch a vibe!! 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀»
@UrGurl99 writes: «Finna Spin Da Block With This One!»
@licklick writes: «Dis is da 💩💣»
Shot 27 - Crocodile in the shop
In the next shot, we see surveillance camera footage showing a crocodile crawling into a store while a customer at the counter watches.
This scene is once again based on viral videos from Miami, where similar animals crawl into small convenience stores.
Shot 28 - Police Raid
Next, we see footage from a body camera attached to one of the police officers during the start of a police raid at some establishment.
It seems that the police system in GTA 6 will become much more refined and advanced!
Shot 29 - Gas Station
The next shot once again brings us back to social media videos!
This clip was posted by user @PlanetLeonidaMan with the caption:
«Ussualy gotta hit the strip club to see jiggle like that fr»
The video shows a naked body-positive man running away from a police officer past a gas station.
At the end of the clip, we can see a Sandking XL pickup driving by.
Shot 30 - Bad Driving
In the next video, we can see a tough man leaning against the open door of his car and holding his crotch.
The world of State of Leonida is full of oddities!
This video was posted by the user @GeneralCustardCannon with the caption:
«Only in Leonida is a crotch grab an apology for bad driving»
Shot 31 - Rudi
In the next video, a fearless man named Rudi opens the door and leans out of the car while it's driving. However, according to the video description, he didn't survive this daredevil stunt.
This video was uploaded by a user with the username @YoMammazJammer,
who captioned it:
«Rudi - C U in heaven, cuz.»
Shot 32 - Nude Man
On the next frame, we see a man watering his garden while standing in just a thong, filmed from a passing car.
This scene is yet another reference to a real-life video, though in the real video, the man was completely naked.
Shot 33 - Mud Party
The next frame shows a group of people having fun in the mud. The residents of State of Leonida really know how to have fun!
In the background, we can see a monster truck driving through a mud puddle, painted in the colors of the USA flag. The woman's swimsuit is also in the colors of the USA flag, and behind her, we can spot a huge crowd with their cars, ATVs, a bridge, and more hanging USA flags. On top of the video, we can see the logo of ThrillBilly Mud Club.
Shot 34 - Hammer Lady
The next video introduces us to a woman nicknamed Hammer Lady. In the video, this woman stands with two hammers on one of the streets in Hamlet and says the phrase: "Well, look who's back."
This video was posted on the account of user LuchaLibreFan and is signed with the words:
«Neighborhood watch don't play around in Hamlet.»
This video is a prototype of a viral video from real life, where a racist woman smashed her neighbors’ cars because of their skin color.
Shot 35 - Drunken Falls
The next, rather short clip shows a man falling onto a table covered with numerous glasses and bottles of alcohol.
Apparently, not every party in State of Leonida ends well.
Shot 36 - Chasing
In the next shot, we see a police chase. Jason is behind the wheel, glancing back to assess how bad the situation is.
Meanwhile, the voiceover begins a sentence with the words:
«The only way.»
Outside the car window, we can spot a new type of police vehicle — it seems law enforcement transportation in GTA 6
is getting a serious upgrade.
Shot 37 - Lucia with money
The next shot continues the previous scene.
We see Lucia sitting in the passenger seat during the same police chase.
It seems that Jason and
Lucia are fleeing after a robbery,
as Lucia is holding a stack of stolen cash.
Meanwhile, the voiceover continues:
«We're gonna get through this...»
In the background, a police siren can be heard wailing.
Shot 38 - Flipped Car
The next shot shows a live news report capturing the aftermath of a major car crash, in which a vehicle has flipped over and been severely damaged.
This report is from Weazel News.
The news headline reads «No (over) turning zone!»,
and the description says:
«Cops arrest man who flipped his car after peewees dine and dash».
Shot 39 - Joker
The next shot switches to another news outlet — this time the Spanish-speaking Mega Noticias. It features a character based on the Joker from Florida, a tattoo model who has been arrested several times. The headline reads: «A confession written in (for tattoos)», explaining that it was the tattoos on his neck that helped police identify him.
In the background, we can see a police badge in the style of the State of Florida, labeled at the bottom as Vice-Dale County.
Shot 40 - Bikers
The next shot shows us a ride of one of the biker gangs through the streets of State of Leonida.
Most of them are riding motorcycles like the Sanchez, but some are riding other motorcycles or ATVs.
The voiceover continues:
«Is by sticking together...».
Shot 41 - Dirt Bike
Next, we see another report from Weazel News, showing how the police are unable to catch one of the biker gangs.
This report is titled: «Dirt-Bike Dirt-Bags»,
and the description reads:
«Cops fail to stop thugs on motorbikes terrorizing Vice City».
Shot 42 - High Rollerz
The next shot shows a body-positive man standing in a traffic jam of cars, smiling and pointing at the camera.
On top of the video screen, there is the emblem of High Rollerz Lifestyle.
Meanwhile, the voice-over continues the phrase:
«Being a team»
Shot 43 - Shop
In the following shots, we see Lucia and Jason walking through a grocery store with bandanas on their faces. Apparently, they are preparing to commit a robbery.
The level of detail in the store's products is impressive. There's a significant leap in graphics and realism compared to GTA 5 game.
Shot 44 - Cheer
In the 44th shot, we see Lucia and Jason driving away from the scene of the robbery, accompanied by Lucia's joyful scream.
At this moment, they are driving a muscle car — the Tulip M100.
Shot 45 - Trust?
We then see a rather intimate moment between Lucia
and Jason, where both are in their underwear —
Jason is lying on the bed while
Lucia sits on top of him.
Lucia asks if he trusts her,
and Jason replies that he does.
We can be sure that the game will feature many similar romantic moments, as the story of Jason and Lucia is inspired by the tragic tale of 20th-century criminals — Bonnie and Clyde.
Shot 46 - Heist
The trailer ends with an epic shot of Lucia and Jason kicking open the door of a store and pointing their guns at everyone inside.
The robbery begins!
Shot 47 - GTA VI
The final frame introduces us to the game's logo. The words "Grand Theft Auto" are written in the traditional GTA series style, with a large Roman numeral 6 behind them, colored in the beautiful hues of Vice City.
At the bottom, it is mentioned that the long-awaited game will be released in 2025.
Conclusion
The first trailer for GTA 6 showed that the gaming industry is about to take a huge leap forward, with video games no longer being just a small child's pastime, but rather true works of art.
The GTA 6 Wiki team eagerly awaits the release of the game and invites you to visit the Explore page to learn all available information about the world of GTA 6.
