Rockstar Games has added official age ratings to the store pages for Grand Theft Auto 6, confirming that the game is rated M for Mature by the ESRB in the US and PEGI 18 in the UK. The PlayStation Store listings in Australia and New Zealand go one step further and name sex scenes among the rated content.

The ESRB rating lists blood and gore, intense violence, mature humor, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, and use of drugs and alcohol. The listing also carries an "in-game purchases" notice.

The Australian and New Zealand descriptions are the first to mention sex scenes explicitly. GTA 5's short rating description on the same store only lists "Sex", even though the game includes at least one scripted scene of that kind, so the different wording does not by itself confirm how GTA 6 handles the content. Trailers for GTA 6 have shown intimate scenes between the two protagonists, Jason and Lucia.

Sexual content has a history with ratings boards in the series. In the mid 2000s, the ESRB re-rated Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas to Adults Only after modders restored a cut sex minigame from the game files, which led to a brief recall.

The in-game purchases label stands out because Rockstar said earlier this summer that there are "no monetizations in this game". Rockstar has not explained the label.

GTA 6 does offer an upgrade from the standard edition to the Ultimate Edition, which adds cosmetics, stores, and missions. Rockstar has not said anything about an online mode, and one is not expected to launch alongside the game.

The ESRB has not yet posted its longer rating summary for GTA 6. Those summaries usually reference specific scenes and gameplay content, and they give parents more detail than the short list of descriptors on a store page.

For parents deciding whether GTA 6 is suitable, the current descriptors already cover the full range of adult content, from drug use to strong sexual content.

Buyers who want to avoid extra spending should note that the in-game purchases label applies to the listing, even though Rockstar's earlier statement rules out monetization in the main game. Steps worth taking before launch:

1. Read the rating descriptors on the PlayStation Store or ESRB listing for the local region, since wording differs between markets.
2. Check the ESRB website for the detailed rating summary once it goes live.
3. Set up console parental controls for age ratings and purchases on accounts used by younger players.

Rockstar's marketing push continues with GTA 6 less than 50 days from launch. The company has placed advertising on Miami's Kaseya Center, started ads in New York, sent promotional boxes to influencers, and opened pre-orders for a $400 GTA 6 collector's set.

The ESRB has not announced when the detailed GTA 6 rating summary will be published.