The Keys are where the story begins — and where the game introduces water traversal, the Keys economy, and your first contacts. Here's what's confirmed about the region.
01Where you start — and why
The Leonida Keys are confirmed as Jason and Lucia's starting location. Trailer 2 shows their initial safehouse situated on one of the islands — they live there rent-free in exchange for helping a contact named Brian collect debts and run local shakedowns. This is deliberately a lower-stakes, lower-resource environment compared to Vice City: the Keys are laid-back and economically modest, which positions the early game as a slow burn before the pair get drawn into the larger Leonida criminal conspiracy. It also serves as the game's tutorial environment for water traversal, since the Keys are bridge-connected islands where boats and jet skis are more practical than cars for some routes.
02Key Lento — the main settlement
Key Lento is the principal settlement in the Leonida Keys, directly inspired by Key Largo in the real Florida Keys. Confirmed points of interest include Stock 305 (a bar or general store), Electric Fang Tattoo (where you can get tattoos applied to Jason or Lucia — one of the confirmed personalisation mechanics), One-Eyed Willie's (a bar), and The Rusty Anchor. The Keys overall are described by Rockstar as a region where 'the dress code is casual, the bars are loaded' — it's the most relaxed environment on the map, intentionally contrasting with Vice City's intensity. Don't expect a lot of high-value criminal activity in the Keys; expect introductory missions and characterisation.
03Water traversal and aquatic activities
The Leonida Keys introduce water traversal as a genuine, necessary mechanic rather than an occasional option. Boats and jet skis are the primary way to move between certain islands — some routes that look short on the map are faster by water than by driving the long bridge roads. Kayaking is confirmed as a slower, more exploratory option for the shallow coastal zones. Underwater exploration is anticipated to be one of GTA 6's standout features in this region specifically — coral reefs, shipwrecks, and submerged caves have been referenced in community map analysis, and the Speargun as a weapon confirms underwater combat is a designed scenario rather than an accident. Diving here is worth prioritising early for loot and hidden locations.
04Brian Heder — your first contact
Brian Heder is the contact who sets Jason and Lucia up in the Keys and gives them their first jobs. He's described as being connected to the smuggling routes that run through the southern Leonida region — a character with ties to both the Keys and the Grassrivers. The early missions in the Keys are debt-collection and shakedown jobs for Brian, which function as the game's introduction to mission structure, driving, and light combat. Don't burn these missions by being aggressive too early — the Keys is where the game teaches you its systems before raising the stakes.
05What to do when the game first launches
Based on what's confirmed, here's how to approach the Keys section efficiently. Complete Brian's introductory missions without skipping cutscenes — they establish relationships that pay off later. Explore the underwater areas around the islands as soon as you have free roam, since hidden loot and collectibles in that zone will be among the first map pins submitted by the community. Get a tattoo at Electric Fang early — it's a confirmed personalisation mechanic and likely tied to early side content. Learn the boat routes between islands rather than always using the road bridges — it'll be faster for several early missions. And pay attention to which buildings you can enter: GTA 6 has over 700 confirmed enterable interiors, and the Keys establishments are among your first opportunities to explore that system.
This guide is built from confirmed Rockstar trailers, screenshots, and reputable pre-release reporting. Any detail marked speculative will be updated with accurate information once GTA 6 ships on November 19, 2026. Not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.