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GTA 6 animals

GTA 6 animals

With Rockstar's previous game creating vast ecosystems, what GTA 6 animals can we expect to see, and will there be hunting?

Rockstar Games has created some of the most detailed and functional ecosystems in all of videogaming history, making many wonder if GTA 6 animals will have a similar complexity or if animals will remain an afterthought.

Both GTA 6 trailers gave us a picturesque view of numerous GTA 6 locations, and a good glimpse at the animals that will populate the GTA 6 map. But will there be a hunting system like in Red Dead Redemption 2? Legendary animals? Fishing? Crafting materials? That remains to be seen.

Confirmed GTA 6 animals

Both GTA 6 trailers and several leaks have confirmed the presence of numerous animal species including:

  • Birds
    • Duck
    • Flamingo
    • Pelican
    • Seagull
    • Stork (possibly a Wood Stork)
  • Fish
    • Dolphin
    • Shark (unknown species)
  • Mammals
    • Boar
    • Dog
      • Chihuahua
    • Raccoon
    • Squirrel
  • Reptiles
    • Alligator
    • Iguana
    • Sea turtle
    • Snake

What do animals do in GTA 6?

When it came to Rockstar Games’ previous work in Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2), animals could be hunted for pelts, feathers, and other materials which could be sold for cash, or crafted into various items and clothing options. In addition, there were a number of legendary animal variants which were significantly harder to hunt and provided unique clothing rewards.

Beyond being mere hunting targets, RDR2 animals fleshed out the vast sweeping environments and biomes across the map. These animals behaved realistically, and it wouldn’t be rare to see animals on their own hunts such as when eagles would swoop down and grab a snake hiding in the grass.

However, animals have had a more nebulous role in Grand Theft Auto games. GTA 5, which released in 2013, featured a limited selection of animals and, while GTA 5 had a set of hunting missions, there were no collectible materials which you could then sell.

But the more important question is: “Should GTA 6 have hunting?” Without an ecosystem as complex as RDR2, introducing hunting mechanics to GTA 6 could run counter to what the GTA 6 story wants to achieve. RDR2 was set in the Wild West, whereas GTA 6 is set in modern times, which makes it very unlikely the player is going to pick up a side business skinning animals and selling their pelts to trappers.

Similarly, it doesn’t seem likely that Lucia or Jason will be skinning animals by the side of the road (not unless GTA 6 allows you to cook roadkill) considering their clear desire to live a rich, if fast, life.

Where to find GTA 6 animals

While it’s very likely that you’ll be able to find animals of various sorts throughout the state of Leonida, the trailers have demonstrated (as in real life) that the most diverse ecosystems will be out at sea, Mount Kalaga National Park, the bayou, and various other natural habitats. Considering the effort Rockstar appears to be putting into their animals, one can only hope that animals will play a semi-important role in the game at the very least, possibly as a completionist standpoint, or as a photography minigame.

Ultimately, it’ll be some time before Rockstar Games gives official word on how animals will play a part in their upcoming Grand Theft Auto experience, but we’ll keep our eyes peeled for any GTA 6 leaks and rumors that might shed more light on how animals fit into GTA 6.