Gyms

What we know

Gyms are on Rockstar's list of GTA 6 activities (IGN, VICE), and they feed a stat system. Rob Nelson told IGN: "We do have gyms where you can go and work out, so you can go up in levels of muscularity or strength." He added that Jason and Lucia can go alone or together, and that going together means "they'll both start working out and you can get a 2-for-one to manage their stats". In An Extended Look, Lucia works out in a button-press minigame that IGN compares to GTA San Andreas.

The stats behind it

IGN saw a stats screen during the demo that tracks height, weight, sleep, nutrition, calories, shape, muscle, fat and strength. Other details from the same preview:

What affects your character	What we know	Source
Gym workouts	Raise muscle and strength	IGN, Rob Nelson
Eating	"Quite a dramatic effect on your health"; overeating adds weight	IGN, Rob Nelson
Running	Sometimes shows a "cardio workout" pop-up	IGN
Extra calories	Can be turned into muscle at the gym, Nelson told TGG	GameSpot
Training together	Counts toward Jason and Lucia's relationship	IGN preview

San Andreas, Red Dead and GTA 6

IGN's Matt Purslow traces the line back to 2004. GTA San Andreas tracked CJ's stamina, muscle and fat: burgers made him fat and slower, weights made his punches deadlier. Those stats were dropped for GTA 4 and 5, then returned in a different form in Red Dead Redemption 2, where Arthur's weight affected his health and stamina. GTA 6 brings the idea back to the city.

Our take: use the gym together. Nelson's "2-for-one" line means one session trains both characters and builds the relationship at the same time, which makes it the most efficient activity Rockstar has described so far. Don't panic about weight either: eating gives a big health boost, and the gym can turn the extra calories into muscle, so food is a tool rather than a trap. What nobody knows yet is whether strength changes combat in a way you'd notice, or mostly changes how Jason and Lucia look. San Andreas made muscle hit harder; we'd bet on something similar, but it is unconfirmed.

What to watch for at launch

• What strength actually changes: melee damage, climbing, carrying.
• Whether muscle fades if you stop training.
• Whether the sleep stat affects workouts or health.