A PEGI 18 rating for Grand Theft Auto VI has started appearing on the European PlayStation Store, suggesting that Rockstar Games’ upcoming open-world title has received the standard adult classification for the region.
The listing appears to show PEGI 18 rather than a more unusual or restrictive classification. However, the rating is still shown as pending in some regions, including the CTC classification for Australia, so the ratings process does not appear to be complete across all territories.
What Does PEGI 18 Mean?
PEGI 18 is the highest standard age classification used by the Pan European Game Information system. The classification can be applied to games containing gross violence, including horrific methods of causing death or severe injury such as torture, decapitation or dismemberment.
PEGI also allows for sexual violence, threats of sexual violence, violence against vulnerable characters and violence against multiple innocent people under the classification. Games can also receive PEGI 18 when they contain detailed descriptions of criminal techniques or glamorise illegal drug use.
Sexual activity involving visible genitalia can also appear in games carrying the PEGI 18 classification.
The appearance of the rating also comes after an earlier claim that GTA VI had received an X 18+ classification in Australia. That information was subsequently found to be incorrect, meaning the Australian rating remains pending.
Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The game is set in the fictional state of Leonida and Vice City and follows protagonists Lucia and Jason as they become involved in a wider criminal conspiracy following a heist gone wrong.
