GTA 6 will get Mature rating; what parents need to to know about ESRB, Grand Theft Auto

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GTA 6, the next installment in the popular Grand Theft Auto series, is still a year away — at least — but the reviews, and ratings, are already here.

GTA 6 carries a Mature rating from the ESRB, which may give pause to parents of adolescents and teens who are considering buying the video game.

It is estimated that more than 40 million copies of GTA 6 will be sold next year alone. So before you get your kid a copy, here’s what parents need to know about the ESRB, how it ranks video games and what it mans for GTA 6.

What is GTA 6’s rating?

GTA 6 has an M rating, which, according to the ESRPB system, means the game includes “blood and gore, intense violence, mature humor, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs, and alcohol.”

The Mature rating alerts parents that GTA 6 is intended for gamers at least 17 years old.

“Within the game, TV programs and radio ads contain instances of mature humor: myriad sex jokes; depictions of raw sewage and feces on a worker’s body; a brief instance of necrophilia (no nudity is depicted),” read GTA 6’s description. “Some sequences within the larger game allow players to use narcotics (e.g., smoking from a bong, lighting a marijuana joint); cocaine use is also depicted.

The game will also depict drinking, smoking and foul and crude language.

Who is responsible for GTA 6’s rating?

The Entertainment Software Rating Board — ESRB — began rating video games in 1994.

The ESRB rated nearly 5,000 vide games in 2024, with most games receiving the E For Everyone rating.

The ESRB has seven ratings:

• E for Everyone: game is suitable for all gamers of any age
• E 10+: game is suitable for all gamers older than 10
• T for Teen: game is generally suitable for anyone older than 13
• M for Mature/17+: for gamers older than 17
• A for Adults Only 18+: Suitable for adults older than 18 only. Game may include prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content and included the ability to gamble with actual money
• RP for Rating Pending: not per assigned an ESRB rating
• RP/Likely Mature 17+: game not yet rated, but likely to receive a Mature rating.

According to the ESRB, The rating system is voluntary. However all console manufacturers, major retailers and mobile or online storefronts require ESRB ratings for the games or apps they offer.

The ESRB also has strategies parents can adopt to manage their child’s gaming habits.

The first GTA was not rated; GTA II earned a T for Teen rating. The rest of the series has been rated M for Mature, with the 2004 San Andreas installment temporarily earning an AO — adults only – rating.