Players still bring up CJ’s gym routine in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas after all these years because it was one of the most hands-on character progression systems Rockstar ever created.
It changed not only CJ’s appearance but also how he fought, ran, and how NPCs responded to him. Muscle mass gave him better punches, and cardio helped him run longer.
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+ 2If you ignored his fitness, it showed quickly through slower movement, reduced stamina, or even harmful weight gain that affected combat and getting around. The game world felt alive and changed based on the player's actions toward their character.
Fans caught sight of Jason lifting weights on the beach and Lucia using the heavy bag in the gym in the GTA 6 trailers. Rockstar might bring back the weight and physique mechanic, as shown by leaked footage and assets with characters of different builds.
Some frames even show Jason looking slimmer, while others reveal a more muscular build with broader shoulders. If that change affects gameplay like it did in San Andreas, it would bring back one of the series’ most hands-on features.
It would be great if the system grew to include gyms specializing in various styles, such as boxing or MMA, each providing new stat bonuses and melee moves. It rewards the effort by unlocking hidden abilities and training-based fighting styles that give players an edge in brawls.
RPG-style system works as well, where steady training raises particular abilities, and diet or physical maintenance affects stamina, vitality, and damage. Red Dead Redemption 2’s weight and hair growth mechanics, which changed based on player actions in real time, make it likely that GTA 6 will use a similar system.
click to enlarge + 2But it’s not just about realism for the sake of realism. Bringing gyms back puts the power back in players’ hands, which GTA 5 mostly ignored. The game made players pay attention to CJ’s eating and exercise habits because they affected how well he did on missions.
It gave you more reasons to stop by Cluckin' Bell besides just picking up quick health. If Rockstar goes all in on that again for GTA 6, they’ll be tapping into the kind of immersive sandbox detail that helped make San Andreas a classic in the first place.
With modern hardware, there is room to do more by tracking nutrition, adding rest mechanics, or including features like underground fight clubs and personal trainers that unlock new movesets. The potential is there to transform it beyond a basic nostalgia callout.
It could be one of the core systems that defines how you engage with Vice City all over again. In the end, CJ’s time at the gym wasn’t simply a feature but Rockstar’s way of letting players influence the game in a real way.
If GTA 6 wants to stand out the same way San Andreas did back then, there’s no better system to revive than the one that had CJ pushing weights, dodging punches, and scarfing down pizza just to stay alive. The fans are ready. Hopefully, Rockstar is too.