Fans have been busy analyzing every frame of the latest Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer since its sudden drop earlier this month, and one fan in particular has taken to social media to recreate and compare some scenes from the GTA 6 trailers to the PC Legacy Edition of GTA 5.
Reddit Noru122 posted comparison screenshots in a thread on the site between the two games, showcasing the large graphical leap between GTA 5 and GTA 6, and the difference is surprising. The images show gorgeous improvements to GTA 6 over 5, with the going to great lengths to try to best recreate some of the GTA 6 scenes within its 2013 predecessor. Click to enlarge the Reddit post below.
GTA 6's True Improvements Over GTA 5
Improved Lighting, More Detail, Better Textures, And More
In total, there are nine comparison screenshots, and the improvement from GTA 5 to GTA 6 is remarkable. While Michael, Franklin, Trevor, and other GTA 5 characters aren't present in GTA 6 (as far as we know), the customized the main characters to look similar to how GTA 6 characters look for a better comparison point. One shot shows Michael and Trevor fishing on Michael's boat, which may have been spotted in the GTA 6 trailer, compared to Jason and another character in GTA 6, and the amount of improved detail, lighting, and expressions is unreal.

GTA 6: 8 Most Impressive Technical Leaps Between The Two Trailers
Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to break new ground in a number of categories, and the second trailer shows huge technical leaps from the first trailer.
Another notable shot is of NPCs on the beaches in the two games. Recently, it was leaked that GTA 6 NPCs may have realistic schedules, and while there is a clear graphical leap for the NPCs, given that GTA 5 is almost 12 years old at this point, it might be all the small details that make the biggest difference. The beach-goers seem to be wearing sunscreen, they're playing with a detailed volleyball, and one NPC is using a metal detector. A sunbather even has sand realistically sticking to her skin.
GTA 6 Recreations Look Phenomenal
The Fans Are Going Above And Beyond
With GTA 6 game map, in an effort to estimate the final size of Leonida's open world.
Monumental efforts like these comparison shots and the game map project prove how ionate GTA 6 fans are, and how excited the series' community is for the long-awaited new entry. Recently, Rockstar Games' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, promised GTA 6 will exceed players' expectations. That's a hefty claim to make, given the game is one of the most anticipated entertainment launches ever, but if these comparison shots are anything to go by, the graphical leap to Grand Theft Auto 6 will impress most, if not all, fans.
Source: Noru122/Reddit

Grand Theft Auto 6
- Released
- May 26, 2026
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Engine
- Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE)
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Prequel(s)
- Grand Theft Auto 5
- Franchise
- Grand Theft Auto
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- May 26, 2026