Kayaking

What we know

Kayaking is one of the side activities Rockstar named in Game Informer's cover story (IGN, VICE), and IGN saw it during Rob Nelson's hands-off demo at Rockstar North. In An Extended Look, a kayak moves through a busy waterway, which IGN says "gives the world a fabulous sense of scale". Ultimate Edition owners also get a Crest kayak, one of "Jason's Safehouse Vehicles" alongside an Army-green Dinka Enduro motorbike (PlayStation Store, Rockstar Support).

That last detail suggests Jason's safehouse sits by the water, though Rockstar hasn't said where it is. Rockstar's longer announcement words the safehouse offer as the Enduro and Kayak "or" the Ganado Retro Build, so whether the Kayak is an extra or an alternative is unclear; we will check on launch day.

Where to paddle

Rockstar hasn't marked kayak spots, but Leonida is full of the right water:

• Vice City's canals and bay, where the Extended Look shot was set.
• The creeks and mangroves of Grassrivers, Leonida's Everglades.
• The shallows around the Leonida Keys.

Why a kayak is a wildlife tool

A kayak is slow and quiet, which makes it the best way to get close to the animals Rockstar says it researched. Real Florida manatees live in rivers, bays, canals and estuaries and gather at springs in winter, FWC says, exactly the kind of water a kayak reaches. GTA 6's animal checklist rewards studying animals up close (IGN), so a paddle through a canal could tick off manatees, wading birds and turtles in one trip. Rockstar hasn't said whether studying works from a boat.

Our take: kayaking is GTA 6's slow-down activity, and we think it will be underrated. It won't make money, but it is likely the best way to see Leonida's wildlife and waterfront up close, and the Extended Look's busy-waterway shot suggests Rockstar wants you to feel small among the boats. If you own the Ultimate Edition, start from Jason's safehouse; if not, look for rentals at marinas, which Rockstar hasn't confirmed but which fit the Florida setting. Expect kayaking to work as a date too, since VICE reports that some activities double as dates for Jason and Lucia.

What to watch for at launch

• Whether kayaks can be rented, or only taken from the Ultimate Edition safehouse.
• Whether you can study animals from a kayak.
• Whether Jason and Lucia can paddle together.