How the stars work in GTA 6

Yes, GTA 6 has six wanted stars, one more than GTA V, and they no longer all mean the same thing: they can be hollow, white or red depending on what the police know about you. They were spotted in the Extended Look Rockstar Games premiered on 27 August, and Rob Nelson, co-studio head of Rockstar North, later explained a good chunk of the system. Here's what each star means and how to lose the Leonida police.

How many stars does GTA 6 have?

Six. The full meter can be seen in the top right corner of the Extended Look, as GamesRadar+ pointed out. It's a return to the classics: GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas and GTA IV went up to six, but GTA V stopped at five. And yes, a website called 6 Stars is especially pleased about it.

What changes is how you earn them. As Nelson told Japanese magazine Famitsu, stars don't go up automatically: Rockstar decides how many each action is worth. And, as he explained to IGN, the police only find out if someone witnesses the crime or an alarm goes off. A robbery with no witnesses can be free.

What does each type of star mean?

This is the big change. The stars change look depending on what the police know:

Nelson himself confirmed the hollow stars in the demo he played for IGN: the police were heading for the stolen car, but didn't know what Jason and Lucia looked like, so simply leaving was enough. The Extended Look has the perfect scene to understand it: Lucia rides past officers on a motorbike with hollow stars, flips them off and nothing happens.

What are the red icons underneath?

They're the cleverest part: a summary of what the police know about you. Each icon is a piece of information they have and that you can wipe:

• Camera: security cameras have recorded you.
• Two people: they're looking for a couple, so splitting Jason and Lucia up helps.
• Hanger: they know what clothes you're wearing.
• Silhouette: they know your face.
• Gun: they know which weapon you used.
• Car: they've identified your vehicle.

VidaExtra checked it in the Extended Look: when Jason, Lucia and Raul torch the getaway car with a Molotov cocktail and switch to a van, the car icon disappears instantly.

Pirat_Nation 🔴@Pirat_Nation

The meaning behind the different Wanted icons in GTA 6 may have been revealed. According to GTA 6 analyst @rainy_wav, each icon shows what the police know about you: • CCTV camera — You’ve been spotted on camera • Two people — Police are looking for a couple • Clothes —… Read more on X

How do search zones work?

Losing sight of the police is no longer enough. The map marks the crime area in red, with a wider, lighter circle around it, and officers keep patrolling it for a while. Nelson showed it in the demo: even after leaving, hovering over that area of the map still showed one star there, and if he went back, the police were still waiting. At six stars, according to previews, the search stops being a zone and covers the whole map.

How do you lose the police in GTA 6?

With brains more than speed. Here's what works, based on what has been shown and what Nelson said:

1. Leave the area before the police arrive. It's the "hit and run" style Rockstar is after: if you don't escalate things, you get away with it.
2. Break line of sight. At three stars in the city it's hard to escape by car unless it's a very fast one; better to get out and continue on foot through alleys, jumping fences.
3. Change clothes. Buying and putting on a new outfit in a store clears the alert level. Your personal vehicle can carry spare clothes in the trunk.
4. Switch cars. If they know which one you're driving, get into another. Watch out for cars with trackers: if you drive slowly, they give away your position.
5. Split the couple up. The police know you're together; separating reduces what they know about you.
6. Cover your face. A mask during the job stops them recording your face from the start. Changing your hair, on the other hand, won't help if they can see you.

And since the police no longer appear on the minimap, Focus is how you find them, as we covered in our new gameplay features. Everything about stolen cars, trackers and Pay 'n' Spray is in our cars guide.

What happens if you get arrested?

Same as always. Nelson confirmed it to IGN: if Jason or Lucia is arrested, the busted message appears and you respawn, as in previous GTAs. And watch out, because the police aren't the only threat: other characters carry guns too and won't always run when you pull out a pistol.