Rockstar releases trailer for 'Grand Theft Auto VI' early amid leak

Looks like Christmas came early for fans awaiting a sneak peek at Rockstar Games’ long-awaited “Grand Theft Auto VI.”

The gaming company posted Friday on X (formerly Twitter) that the trailer would arrive Tuesday. However, a now-suspended X account leaked the trailer early and prompted the company to officially release it on Monday evening.

Returning to Vice City (which is based on Miami and Miami Beach), the setting of the game series’ fourth entry in 2002, the storyline appears to follow the series’ first female protagonist, Lucia.

According to an official press release from Rockstar, the setting is officially in “the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.”

The trailer, with the backing track of Tom Petty’s “Love Is a Long Road,” begins with Lucia in prison. What follows is a mash of boats, beaches and bikini-clad women. Oh, and plenty of anarchy on the streets. Lucia, who finds her way out from behind bars, embarks on a spree of crime with her boyfriend, Jason, in tow.

“’Grand Theft Auto VI’ continues our efforts to push the limits of what’s possible in highly immersive, story-driven open-world experiences,” Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games, said in an official press release. “We’re thrilled to be able to share this new vision with players everywhere.”

Fans have been waiting for the latest edition of the mega-popular game for over a decade. Rockstar pioneered the open-world genre of games in 2001 with “Grand Theft Auto III.” The most recent edition, 2013’s “Grand Theft Auto V,” has sold more than 190 million units.

The game is not yet rated, but will likely will follow its predecessor with a Mature rating, for players 17 and older.