GTA 6: Rockstar Reveals On-Foot Radio and Podcasting Features

Rockstar Games has officially previewed six of the in-game radio stations coming to Grand Theft Auto VI, confirming that players will be able to listen to music and on-demand podcasts on foot. The studio revealed the update alongside details of the game's modern audio mechanics, shifting how players will experience the soundscape of Vice City. Grand Theft Auto VI will be available in a Standard Edition for $79.99 USD and an Ultimate Edition for $99.99 USD.

The transition to personal audio marks a structural shift for the franchise's soundtrack delivery. Since the 1997 original, accessing radio stations has traditionally been tied to being in a vehicle. However, a glitch in GTA Online (post patch 1.50 in 2020) allowed players to listen to radio stations on foot, and the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI, launching November 19, 2026, will introduce an on-foot audio system allowing protagonists to listen to radio and podcasts via smartphone earbuds. What was once an unintended programming quirk has officially been integrated into the core game design.

The details

• Launch Date: November 19, 2026
• New Feature: On-foot audio streaming via headphones and in-game smartphones
• Confirmed Hosts: Musician Bad Bunny, Lana Del Rey's husband
• Music Genres: Latin, southern hip hop, country, metal, AfroBeats, and pop
• Featured Artists: Black Sabbath, Slayer, Pantera, and Charli XCX

Who is on the dial?

According to the official music preview, the in-game radio stations will be populated by a mix of real-world personalities and a broad selection of musical styles. Confirmed radio station hosts include musician Bad Bunny, while Lana Del Rey's husband will serve as a roving reporter for the game's country station.

The musical lineup spans multiple genres to cover a wide variety of listener tastes, incorporating Latin, southern hip hop, country, metal, AfroBeats, and pop. Listeners can expect to hear tracks from heavy metal acts like Black Sabbath, Slayer, and Pantera, as well as pop music from Charli XCX. This distribution of genres suggests that the game's audio environment will reflect a highly diverse set of sounds, mirroring the modern digital landscape where listeners bounce between disparate playlists at will.

For players looking to prepare for the launch, planning out purchases is already underway, with various pricing and credit options circulating online to help soften the eventual cost of the game's premium editions.

Why it matters

Radio has historically been one of Rockstar’s primary tools for world-building, delivering satire, culture, and licensed music to players as they drive through the game world. By untethering the audio from cars and bringing it to on-foot exploration, the studio is aligning the game's mechanics with modern smartphone habits. Transitioning from car stereos to personal earbuds changes how players can absorb the game's atmosphere while moving through the world, turning what once required a grand theft auto into a standard pedestrian walk.