Leonida Keys

The Keys are where Jason and Lucia's story starts, and that placement is the most useful thing to know about them. Rockstar does not open a game somewhere arbitrary — the starting region is normally where the mechanics get taught before the map opens up.

Why an island chain is a deliberate choice

A bridge-connected chain is a very particular kind of geography. It limits where you can drive, which means chases have chokepoints, and it puts water everywhere, which means boats stop being optional. Compared to starting in the city, it is a much more controlled space — easier to learn, harder to escape.

The reefs, shipwrecks and submerged caves point at underwater exploration being a real system rather than scenery. Rockstar built diving into GTA 5 and then gave players very little reason to use it; putting wrecks and caves in the opening region suggests they intend the water to actually be worth searching this time.

What to expect in practice

Reading this as an opening area: expect the early game to teach driving, boats, and probably diving here before the mainland becomes relevant. Expect distances to feel small and the police presence to feel light compared with Vice City.

It is worth saying plainly that this is a read on the design, not a confirmed structure. Rockstar has not described a tutorial region or explained how the map unlocks. What is confirmed is the geography and the fact that the story begins here.

Honest caveats

No official map exists, so the number of islands, the length of the bridge chain, and whether the Keys connect directly to Vice City by road are all unknown. The turquoise-water shots that circulate are from trailers, which are curated marketing footage — beautiful, and not a promise about how the region looks in ordinary play.