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Wanted System
March 1, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Fixed 1 verified inaccuracy: Fix Police Riot basis in wanted-system: Lenco Bear, not BearCat
Grand Theft Auto VI continues the franchise's wanted level system, where committing crimes triggers an escalating law enforcement response. Based on official trailers and screenshots, the system appears to build on mechanics from both GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar has not published an official breakdown of the wanted system's mechanics.
Community analysis of official trailer footage has identified up to nine distinct law enforcement agencies operating across the state of Leonida. These identifications are based on visible uniforms, vehicle liveries, and markings in Trailer 1, Trailer 2, and the 70 official screenshots. Rockstar has not published a list of agencies.
Agency | Real-World Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Vice City Police Department (VCPD) | Miami Police Department | Primary urban police force in Vice City |
Vice-Dale Police Department (VDPD) | Miami-Dade Police | County-level department for Vice-Dale County |
Leonard County Sheriff's Office | Broward County Sheriff | Green and white SUV livery visible in Trailer 1 |
Kelly County Sheriff | Rural county sheriff | Patrols the Port Gellhorn area |
Port Gellhorn Police Department | Small-town PD | Local department for Port Gellhorn |
Ocean Beach Police Department | Miami Beach PD | Patrols the beachfront district |
Leonida Highway Patrol | Florida Highway Patrol | Black and tan livery Gauntlet Interceptor in Trailer 1 |
Leonida Department of Corrections | Florida DOC | Operates Leonida Penitentiary |
United States Coast Guard | U.S. Coast Guard | Patrols coastal and Keys waterways |
The variety of agencies reflects the state of Leonida's county-based administrative structure. Different agencies patrol different regions: the VCPD handles Vice City proper, the Kelly County Sheriff covers Port Gellhorn, and the Leonida Highway Patrol operates on interstate roads. This is a significant increase in law enforcement variety compared to GTA V, which primarily featured the LSPD and a county sheriff.
Several police vehicle models have been identified from official trailer footage. Vehicle names follow GTA naming conventions (fictional manufacturer names). Rockstar has not published an official vehicle list.
Vehicle | Real-World Basis | Seen In |
|---|---|---|
Bravado Police Buffalo STX | 2015 Dodge Charger Pursuit | Trailer 1 (Vice-Dale PD livery) |
Bravado Police Gauntlet Interceptor | Dodge Challenger SRT | Trailer 1 (Leonida Highway Patrol, black/tan) |
Brute Police Riot | Lenco Bear armored truck | Trailer 2 (tactical unit pursuit) |
Buckingham Police Maverick | Eurocopter AS350 | Both trailers (helicopter pursuit) |
Trailer 2 features police vehicles with near-invisible "ghost" decals. These cars use reflective material that blends with regular traffic under normal conditions. The police markings only become visible when light hits the vehicle at certain angles or when the emergency lights activate. This makes ghost cars effectively undercover vehicles that can blend into civilian traffic, a feature inspired by real-world law enforcement practice.
A SWAT-equivalent tactical unit appears in Trailer 2. The Brute Police Riot armored truck is shown pursuing Jason and Lucia, with Lucia firing a grenade launcher at it. The vehicle barely flinches from the explosion, demonstrating heavy armor plating. Officers in the scene wear tactical gear. No official unit name (equivalent to GTA V's NOOSE) has been confirmed for GTA VI.
The game uses a star-based wanted system consistent with previous GTA entries. At lower levels, patrol cars and beat cops respond. Higher levels bring tactical teams, helicopters, and heavier weaponry. The exact number of wanted stars has not been officially confirmed by Rockstar. Leaked development footage from the 2022 breach (which Rockstar acknowledged was authentic) showed six stars, but this may not reflect the final game.
NPCs can observe crimes and report them to police. Based on trailer analysis reported by multiple outlets, witnesses appear to provide descriptions of suspects and vehicles to law enforcement. This is similar to the witness system in Red Dead Redemption 2, where players could intercept witnesses before they made a report. Whether GTA VI allows similar intervention has not been confirmed.
The practical implication is that switching clothes or changing vehicles may help shake a wanted level, since police would be searching for a specific description. This adds a layer of strategy beyond simply outrunning patrol cars.
NPCs in the game world pull out their phones to record noteworthy events, including crimes committed by the player. This behavior is prominently shown in both trailers and ties into the game's satirical take on social media culture. Whether recorded footage has mechanical consequences, such as increasing wanted levels or creating in-game viral content, has not been confirmed by Rockstar.
Trailer 2 features a prominent unnamed police officer conducting what appear to be backroom deals and leading aggressive raids with a squad of plainclothes officers. His line in the trailer is: "Us cops, we gotta protect each other." The composition of his squad (non-standard attire, a heavily tattooed officer, a bearded cop in a backwards cap) suggests an undercover or corrupt unit. Rockstar has not named this character or detailed his role in the story. For more on the supporting cast, see that article.
