GTA 6's wanted level goes up to six stars again, one more than GTA 5. Alongside the stars, a new heat system shows what the police actually know about you, such as your clothes, face, vehicle and whether you were seen with your partner. Shaking the cops now means breaking that description, not just leaving a search circle.
- Wanted level: up to six stars (GTA 5 capped at five)
- Heat: icons under the stars show what police know about you
- Witnesses and cameras feed the police your description
What's confirmed
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Maximum wanted level | Six stars, shown in the Extended Look |
| Heat icons | Confirmed — show what police know (clothes, face, vehicle, partner) |
| Witnesses and cameras | Confirmed — they pass your description to the police |
| Changing your look to escape | Confirmed in previews (clothes, hats, haircut, vehicles) |
| What triggers each star | Not announced |
| What the sixth star sends after you | Not announced |
Six stars are back
GTA 5 capped the wanted meter at five stars. GTA 6 returns to six, which outlets including GameSpot, GamesRadar+ and Kotaku spotted in Rockstar's "An Extended Look" gameplay video. Rockstar has not explained what it takes to reach six stars or what the police response looks like at that level. In older games, the top level brought in the military, but nothing official says GTA 6 does the same — treat that as speculation for now.
How heat works
Rockstar North's Rob Nelson has described the new police mechanics as a "heat" system. The main idea: the cops chase a description, not just a blip on the map.
- Someone has to see or report the crime. Witnesses and alarms bring in the police, and security cameras can record you too.
- Icons under the stars show what the police currently have on you: your clothing, your face, your vehicle, and whether you were seen as a couple.
- Clearing the stars isn't the end. Police remember the details they collected, so driving the same car or wearing the same outfit can get you recognised again.
GameSpot also reports that a camera icon appears when CCTV catches you and that destroying the footage removes it. We haven't seen this confirmed by a second outlet yet, so treat it as reported rather than confirmed.
Losing the police
Nelson's message in previews is that a quick getaway is the intended play: commit the crime, get away, and don't escalate. A single star is fairly easy to shake, while higher levels force you to think more. Ways to break your description that previews mention:
- Change clothes or hats — previews suggest keeping a spare outfit in the car.
- Swap vehicles, especially if the police have your car.
- Get a haircut to change how you look.
- Wear a mask before the crime so witnesses can't identify your face.
- Split up. Police react differently to Jason and Lucia together versus alone, and you can send your partner off to draw attention away.
Criminal Profile (reported)
Coverage of Rockstar interviews also mentions a Criminal Profile that tracks your behaviour over time and, unlike the wanted stars, doesn't reset to zero. Rockstar hasn't said what the profile changes in practice, so we'll keep this marked as unconfirmed until there's more detail.
Still unconfirmed
- Exactly what each star level requires, and how long heat lasts.
- The exact meaning of each star colour or state. Coverage describes solid stars when police can see you and a different state after you break line of sight, but Rockstar hasn't documented this.
- "Hot areas" where your wanted level returns — mentioned by some fan guides, not by major outlets.
- Any GTA 6 cheat for removing a wanted level. None are known before launch.
FAQ
Does GTA 6 have six wanted stars?+
Yes. The Extended Look gameplay video shows a wanted meter with six stars, up from the five-star cap in GTA 5.
What is heat in GTA 6?+
Heat is what the police know about you. Icons under the stars show whether they have your clothing, your face, your vehicle or a sighting of Jason and Lucia together. Losing the stars doesn't automatically clear that information.
How do you lose the cops in GTA 6?+
Based on previews: get out of sight, then break your description by changing clothes, swapping vehicles or splitting up with your partner. Rockstar says low wanted levels are fairly easy to shake, while higher ones take more thought.
Does wearing a mask help?+
Previews say a mask worn before a crime can stop witnesses from recognising your face. Rockstar hasn't said how far that protection goes against cameras or other clues.
Are there cheats to clear your wanted level in GTA 6?+
GTA 6 cheats are unknown before launch. If you want the GTA 5 codes for reference, see our GTA 5 cheats list.
- Kotaku: 20 big new things we just learned about GTA 6
- GameSpot: Here's how wanted levels and crime work in GTA 6
- GamesRadar+: GTA 6 wanted system goes up to 6 stars and tracks your face, clothes and car
- GameSpot: GTA 6 wants losing your wanted level to feel like a hit-and-run
How we checked: every fact on this page comes from Rockstar's official announcements or at least two reputable outlets, linked above. GTA 6 isn't out yet — we'll update this page with our own in-game testing after November 19.