GTA 6 is rated M for Mature 17+ by the ESRB in the US, PEGI 18 in the UK and R 18+ in Australia. PlayStation's stores also show USK 18 in Germany and CERO Z (18 and over) in Japan. Every rating below was read from the board's own page or PlayStation's store on 5 November 2026.
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GTA 6 age rating by country
| Where | Board | Rating | Where we read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| US and Canada | ESRB | M (Mature 17+) | Confirmed [1] [2] |
| UK and Europe | PEGI | 18 | Confirmed [1] |
| Australia | Classification Board | R 18+ | Confirmed [1] [2] |
| Germany | USK | 18 | Confirmed [1] |
| Japan | CERO | Z (18 and over) | Confirmed [1] |
Store ratings come from the PlayStation Store listing for each country. We haven't listed countries whose rating we couldn't open ourselves today.
ESRB: M for Mature 17+
The ESRB lists Grand Theft Auto VI by Rockstar Games for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series. Its summary says the game "is rated M for Mature 17+ by the ESRB with Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, and Use of Drugs and Alcohol. Also includes In-Game Purchases." Confirmed [1] The US PlayStation Store shows the same "ESRB Mature 17+" badge. [1] "In-Game Purchases" is a note about paid extras, not about the content itself.
PEGI 18 in the UK
The UK PlayStation Store shows PEGI 18, with the descriptors Drugs, Sexual Content and Violence, plus In-Game Purchases. Confirmed [1] PEGI 18 is PEGI's top age band.
R 18+ in Australia
Australia's Classification Board lists Grand Theft Auto VI as R 18+, classified on 27 August 2026, with the consumer advice "High impact violence, sex scenes and drug use". The publisher on file is Rockstar Games, with Rockstar North as the production company. Confirmed [1] PlayStation Australia shows "ACB R 18+" with Drug Use, High Impact Violence and Sex Scenes. [1] R 18+ is legally restricted in Australia, so retailers can't sell it to anyone under 18.
Germany and Japan
PlayStation's German store shows USK 18, and its Japanese store shows CERO Z, the rating for ages 18 and over. Confirmed [1] [2]
What this means for parents
Every board we checked puts GTA 6 at its adult level, 17+ in the US and 18 elsewhere. The listed reasons are the same across boards: strong violence, sexual content, nudity and drug use. Both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S let a parent block games above a set age rating on a child's account, so the rating is what those controls check against. GTA 6 launches on 19 November 2026, and you can see the exact hour on the release time by country table. For editions and prices, see is Ultimate Edition worth it? and GTA 6 price.
Where to go next
Planning launch night? Check your local unlock hour on the GTA 6 release time table, compare store prices on where to buy GTA 6, explore Leonida on the interactive map, and bookmark GTA 6 cheats, which lists only codes we can verify once the game is out. More explainers: all GTA 6 guides.
FAQ
What is GTA 6 rated?
ESRB M for Mature 17+ in the US and Canada, PEGI 18 in the UK, R 18+ in Australia, USK 18 in Germany and CERO Z in Japan.
Why is GTA 6 rated M?
The ESRB lists Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, and Use of Drugs and Alcohol.
Is GTA 6 R18+ in Australia?
Yes. The Classification Board rated it R 18+ on 27 August 2026 for high impact violence, sex scenes and drug use.
Is GTA 6 PEGI 18?
Yes. The UK PlayStation Store shows PEGI 18 with Drugs, Sexual Content, Violence and In-Game Purchases.
Can a 16-year-old buy GTA 6?
The ratings are 17+ in the US and 18 in the UK, Australia, Germany and Japan. In Australia R 18+ is legally restricted, so stores can't sell it to under-18s.