GTA 6 Leonida Keys explained: Jason's old smuggling grounds and what's confirmed

The Leonida Keys sit south of Vice City in the game's fictional Mariana County, reached via a causeway that arcs south-southwest before turning west — a direct rendition of the real Florida Keys, right down to bridges visibly modeled on the Seven Mile Bridge. Rockstar's own in-world description leans into the contrast that defines the region: a casual, laid-back tropical archipelago where the dress code is relaxed and the bars are loaded, sitting right next to some of the most dangerous waters in the state.

This isn't just a scenic detour. According to Rockstar's official character material, Jason Duval worked as a drug runner in the Keys before meeting Lucia, employed by a longtime smuggler named Brian Heder who lets Jason live rent-free at one of his Keys properties in exchange for handling local shakedowns. Jason's starting apartment is widely believed to sit on Key Lento, the game's clear analog for Key Largo, which puts the Keys at the actual geographic starting point of the story rather than a side region players visit later.

Expect boats to matter here more than in any previous GTA game. Rockstar has emphasized improved water physics, a wider range of watercraft, and underwater exploration with visible marine life, and the Keys' isolated island geography — historically useful for smuggling in both the real Florida Keys and the fictional version — points toward gameplay built around water-based traversal, transport runs, and hideouts rather than dense street-level activity.

What isn't confirmed: Rockstar hasn't detailed a specific activity list for the region, hasn't published exact island counts or names beyond Key Lento, and hasn't confirmed how large a role the Keys play relative to Vice City proper. Community trailer analysis has filled in some of these gaps, but treat anything beyond the geography, the tone, and Jason's confirmed backstory tie as informed extrapolation rather than official fact.