Reports indicate that GTA 6 will feature ample free-roam activities between main missions. Players can take buses and trains that run on schedules, go shopping, visit clubs, or raise funds through robberies and vehicle theft orders.
Development lead Phil Hooker stated that he regularly checks the in-game bus schedules, rides across Leonida to observe the surroundings, and verifies whether vehicles arrive on time. He has even memorized some of the routes. The focus of this design is not merely to add transportation features, but to allow players to manage their time between missions independently.
Between main missions, there are sometimes natural preparation periods where Jason and Lucia need to raise funds. Players can rob gas stations or jewelry stores, or steal specific vehicles according to orders. The in-game app WAINK lists the car models currently being purchased and provides information such as vehicle security and tracking capabilities; the tighter the security, the higher the difficulty of stealing and delivering the vehicle.
Another app, Scooter Bros, allows players to pay to summon their own vehicle to their location. Additionally, vehicles have fuel and engine condition indicators, requiring players to monitor their status during normal driving.