Rockstar’s use of weapons in their games can be seen from the story-driven aspects of the game, through to the open-world chaos, down to the five-star chases with the police. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that as soon as Rockstar releases a new trailer for GTA 5, half of the people who watch it pause the video to determine which weapon Jason will be using.
As we approach the release date of November 19, 2026, and with Rockstar releasing its extended look gameplay reveal trailer on August 27, 2026, there is now sufficient information available for us to make concrete statements regarding the weapons that will be available within the game. While some of the weapons are confirmed, others are based on speculation, and some are merely based upon wishful thinking. Therefore, we will attempt to separate each of these categories as best as possible.
GTA 6 is going to be the most immersive game ever created by Rockstar Games, and the company has always placed a high emphasis on the feel and use of firearms. Be it the amount of recoil or the audio of each shot, down to the way a firearm looks when being held by a player character. This obsession became even more prominent during the Red Dead Redemption 2 era, and there should be no doubt that this obsession will continue with the release of GTA 6. When people say that the gunplay in GTA 6 is going to be realistic, what they are really saying is that the firearms in the game will have a sense of weight to them and the environment will respond to them.
Table of Contents
Handguns
The most solid information we have about pistols comes from the fact that both Jason and Lucia use them extensively in both of the game’s trailers. There are two manufacturers that appear to be very active in producing pistols. One is Duke Arms Company, which is the same weapons manufacturing company used in the Red Dead Redemption series; they will make their Grand Theft Auto debut with their confirmed product, the Mustang .357 revolver. The second manufacturer is Capo, which has also been confirmed to produce at least one pistol in the game. In a screenshot featuring Raul Bautista, he can be seen holding a Capo pistol, and Jason can be seen using one during the liquor store robbery at the end of the first trailer.
The Ultimate Edition has another feature that is more personal. It includes the signature weapons of both Jason (the Girardi ES9) and Lucia (the Klose K17). This provides each protagonist with a named weapon that fits the Bonnie and Clyde style of the game. I would assume that a revolver will be available as the classic, high-powered weapon, along with several different semi-automatic pistols for daily use.
Rifles and Submachine Guns
There is no other firearm in the GTA series that has received as much exposure as the carbine. The carbine is listed on a single weapons list as being the most commonly seen weapon in every trailer video for the GTA series. This is understandable, as the carbine is a reliable mid-range rifle which will suit almost any situation a GTA player may find themselves involved in, whether it be a bank robbery or a pursuit gone bad.
The Duke Arms Company Special Ops Carbine used by Raul Bautista in the street standoff, and the Heckler & Koch MP5/40-inspired submachine gun are two examples of weapons that have appeared in the game. It should be noted that Rockstar Games rarely uses actual brand-name firearms. Therefore, it can be expected that the weapons featured in the game will be parodies of existing weapons with slight design changes rather than licensed models.
There are some fansites that have also pointed to what appears to be an AK-style rifle with wood furnishings in the background of the trailers. It is possible, and it fits into the gang aspect of Leonida, but I would consider it spotted rather than officially confirmed. I feel the same way about all of the different types of rifles that people are pointing out on these community-created lists. Many of those lists combine official promotional materials with leaked footage from 2022. To date, Rockstar has not commented on any of that leaked footage.
Shotguns
A long-time staple of the series, shotguns will be present in Grand Theft Auto 6. While there are several other types of shotguns confirmed for inclusion in the game, the only one that can be definitively identified is the double-barrel shotgun. Up until now, this type of shotgun was only included in two previous installments of the franchise: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and Grand Theft Auto Online. This is a very interesting choice. The double-barrel is a slow, loud, and unforgiving weapon; however, when used at close range, it is extremely powerful. Therefore, this weapon seems to fit well into a game where players must weigh the risks involved with using certain weapons.
Other sources indicate a second, pump-action type shotgun, which will likely be the everyday choice. A GTA release has never occurred without at least one pump-action shotgun; therefore, I am confident that it will exist. However, we do not know any specific information regarding this weapon.
Snipers
I’ve seen two different types of snipers in the trailers/screenshots. A slow-firing, precise bolt-action sniper modeled after the Remington 700 and a semi-automatic sniper created by Duke Arms Company. I think that’s a good way to separate them. The bolt-action would be used for long-range shots where you can take your time to aim, while the semi-automatic would be better suited for follow-up shots, as it fires much faster.
The amount of work that Rockstar put into making Leonida feel like it is on such a grand scale, from national parks and wetlands, all the way down to Vice City itself, means that long sightlines will be important in missions. Players can use these sightlines for sniping, whether they are taking out enemies from across the water or from a rooftop high above a crowded street. I believe that there should be some scope with a realistic zoom function, as opposed to the point-and-click style of earlier Rockstar titles.
Heavy Weaponry and Explosives
The sources differ on this point; therefore, I must proceed cautiously. One source states that the grenade launcher is the only official heavy weapon identified, and it resembles the one created by Shrewsbury in GTA 5. Additional sources indicate there are two launchers, one being a standard RPG-7 rocket launcher, with various custom finishes available. My honest opinion is that the grenade launcher is the most probable addition to the game, and a rocket launcher is highly probable.
Melee Weapons
Melee in GTA has always been where the dark humor exists. According to the community trackers, the first weapon officially confirmed for the game was a hammer. In the social media clips of the first trailer, a woman can be seen with two hammers. Since hammers have been available in many of the earlier games, it seems logical that they would make a comeback as a deadly melee weapon. Baseball bats are also on the confirmed list of weapons, and the screenshot of Jason and Cal Hampton playing pool indicates that a pool cue may also be included as a melee weapon all of the GTA 6 weapons that have been shown to us so far.
Underwater Combat
The most interesting detail is that shooting underwater has been confirmed. A tracker lists shooting underwater as confirmed, and another notes that a specific underwater weapon would suggest that aquatic missions will be more than simply swimming from point A to point B. Given the amount of coastline, canals, and swamps in Leonida, this seems reasonable. Harpoon guns and similar types of weapons have appeared in previous games; therefore, a contemporary version of these is the most probable outcome.
How You Take Care of it All
The type of weapons available to players is just one part of the equation when it comes to the gameplay mechanics. The way players use their arsenal will be equally important as well. The wheel on the screen reportedly features three separate parts – Weapons, Equipment, and Gear – indicating that there may be a cleaner layout for players to choose from than the long list that appeared on screen in GTA V. Additionally, while we don’t know the full extent of the customizability of weapons yet, Rockstar has officially stated that there will be options for players to customize their weapons.
There are other people who think that the infinite weapon wheel will be removed. Some of the early reviews say they believe we’ll see an inventory system similar to Red Dead Redemption 2. In this system, each player can only carry a certain number of weapons, and larger weapons will be kept in the player’s personal vehicle trunk. This is speculation on the part of one review site. However, if this does happen, it will alter the way players prepare for heists. Players will no longer be able to carry a small arsenal with them at all times. Instead, players will need to plan and pick up the correct items from their vehicles prior to starting a mission. Additionally, if players are surprised by a fight during a mission, they may find themselves lacking adequate equipment. I like the idea of earning your weapons, as opposed to simply selecting them off of a menu.
Where Do You Find Your Weapons
In addition to shops, there will likely be weapons obtained through completing missions, dropped by enemies, and possibly acquired through traditional underworld contacts. I am interested to see what effect the Ultimate Edition’s exclusive guns have upon the overall game’s balance for those who did not purchase this edition. It is very likely that Ammu-Nation will return in some capacity because it has always been the primary gun shop in the series.
