IlloJuan and the “mapping project”: glimpsing into the GTA 6 map

IlloJuan shows GTA 6 map and stuns fans with huge scale leap

10/09/2025 1:04 PM

Spanish streamer IlloJuan recently showed what may be a leaked version of the GTA 6 map on his stream, based on the community’s mapping project efforts. This project reconstructs the game’s world using leaks, trailers, and images. IlloJuan claimed the map he's reviewing has a 95 % accuracy rate, though he acknowledged that certain natural zones might still shift.

During the livestream, he remarked:

“The difference is crazy. It’s about 70 % bigger than GTA 5’s map. Back then it took around 3 minutes to drive across; now it'll take six minutes and a bit.”
“All the pins shown are real locations pulled from Google Maps.”

He also observed that major regions like Miami (Vice City) and swamplands likely maintain their layout in this version.

While confident, IlloJuan cautioned that some natural terrain areas might be refined in the final build.

How much bigger is this map compared to GTA 5?

Based on IlloJuan’s comments, the suspected GTA 6 map could be approximately 70 % larger than GTA 5. That scale-up implies longer traversal distances, deeper exploration, and many more hidden areas to discover.

To illustrate:

  • In GTA 5, traveling end to end took about 3 minutes by car.
  • In this leaked version, the trip might take 6 minutes or slightly more.
  • The map sheds realism by adopting many real-world coordinates and locations.

This expansion signals a more ambitious, dense, and layered design for the next GTA title.

IlloJuan and the “mapping project”: glimpsing into the GTA 6 map

Is the May 2026 release still on track?

IlloJuan reiterated that despite the leaks, Rockstar likely keeps the planned May 26, 2026 release date. He mentioned signals like updates on the PlayStation Store listing and an expected shareholders meeting in November.

Nevertheless, early leaks like this raise the possibility that some areas or features could still change before launch.

Map rumors and setting speculations

Following the reveal, several strong rumors have gained traction:

  • That the fictional state of Leonida will feature prominently as a new territory.
  • Vice City (Miami-inspired) is expected to be one of the densest urban hubs.
  • Expect extensive swamps, waterways, forests, and suburban landscapes in seamless transitions.
  • Some areas may shift from what's currently visible; IlloJuan admitted that natural zones could be revised.

Meanwhile, mapping communities continue refining the map: adjusting building names, coordinates, and terrain boundaries based on fresh leaks.

What this leak adds to the GTA 6 hype

  1. Elevated anticipation: it suggests GTA 6 could surpass all previous open-world scope.
  2. Validation for fan maps: leaks-based reconstruction may be more accurate than critics assumed.
  3. Media momentum: every map leak fuels buzz across forums and video content.
  4. Pressure on Rockstar: more scrutiny around leaks forces clarifications from the company.