Grand Theft Auto VI's wanted meter tops out at six stars, one more than GTA V and the first six-star system since GTA IV in 2008. Everything here comes from An Extended Look, the 26-minute gameplay showcase of August 27, 2026, and from Rockstar North's Rob Nelson walking through it. Confirmed
- Crimes have to be seen
- Four leads
- White stars, red stars
- What has been shown
- Compared with earlier games
Crimes have to be seen
In GTA V the stars lit the instant you did something wrong. In GTA 6 the game first checks whether anyone saw it: a bystander with a phone, a shop alarm, a passing patrol. Smash a window on an empty back road and the meter stays empty. Nelson's words were that the system "requires that someone witness the crime." Previews the same day described hollow stars for when police know a crime happened but not who did it. Confirmed
Four leads
Next to the stars sit four icons showing what the police have on you: vehicle, clothes, face and partner. Each lit icon is a lead they can match; each one you remove goes dark. See Police leads.
White stars, red stars
Break line of sight, into an alley, a garage, a side street with no police in view, and the stars turn from white to red. In the footage the police are still searching while the stars are red, but no longer in direct pursuit. Kill the leads while they are red and leave the search area, and the stars fade. Get spotted again and they go white with every lead that was still lit. Community That is the community's reading of the footage; Rockstar has not spelled out the exact rule.
What has been shown
The showcase demonstrated up to three stars: a patrol car or two at one, more units and the icons filling in at two, roadblocks and sustained pursuit at three, where Nelson's advice was to get out of the car and into alleys on foot. Levels four to six have not been shown. In the earlier six-star games those meant helicopters, SWAT and finally the military. Unknown Police are not marked on the minimap; a Focus mode is how you spot them.
Compared with earlier games
| Game | Max stars |
|---|---|
| GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA IV | 6 |
| GTA V | 5 |
| GTA VI | 6 (restored) |
Official screenshots
Questions
How many wanted stars are in GTA 6?
Six. GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas and GTA IV had six; GTA V dropped to five. GTA 6 restores the sixth star.
Do you get a wanted level instantly in GTA 6?
No. Police only respond when someone witnesses the crime or an alarm is tripped. Rob Nelson said the system "requires that someone witness the crime."
What do red stars mean in GTA 6?
You have broken line of sight and the police are searching rather than chasing. That is the community's reading of the footage; Rockstar has not spelled out the exact rule.
Sources and further reading
- Our full wanted level guide (SixStarsWanted)
- Wanted level explained (SixStarsWanted)
- Rockstar Games: An Extended Look
- PC Gamer: Extended Look live coverage
- GameSpot: GTA 6's big reveal, all the things we learned
Last updated 2026-10-18.
