What is GTA 6 rated, and can you block it for a child?
GTA 6 is rated M, Mature 17+, by the ESRB. UK store pages show PEGI 18. Both consoles can block it by age rating on a child's account.
The rating
| Board | Rating | Content listed |
|---|---|---|
| ESRB (US, Canada) | M, Mature 17+ | Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol; In-Game Purchases |
| PEGI (UK, Europe) | 18, as shown on the UK PlayStation and Xbox stores | Violence, drugs and sexual content; In-Game Purchases |
The ESRB figures are from the ESRB's own page. PEGI 18 is from the UK store pages: PEGI's own database had no entry for the game when we searched it on 14 November 2026.
PS5: block by age, cap spending, limit play time
Everything starts in the same place: Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management, then select the child's account. The child needs their own account in your family; settings on your account do not apply to them.
| Goal | Setting |
|---|---|
| Block games by age rating | "Age level for games and apps". A blocked game lets the child send you a request to allow it. |
| Stop spending | Parental Controls > Monthly Spending Limit. The default is 0. |
| Limit play time | Set a time zone, then Playtime Settings: duration, playable hours, and whether the console notifies or logs the child out |
The same controls are on the web under Account Management > Family Management and in the PlayStation Family app.
Xbox Series X|S: block by age, approve purchases, limit screen time
The child's account has to be in your Xbox family group. Microsoft's controls are then set from the web at account.microsoft.com/family or in the Xbox Family Settings app.
| Goal | Where |
|---|---|
| Block games by age rating | Set an age limit for the child in the family group. App and game filters apply on Xbox and Windows devices. |
| Stop spending | Manage spending > "Require approval for every purchase" |
| Limit screen time | On the web: the child's tile > Xbox tab > choose a day. Screen time cannot be set on the console itself, only on the web or in the app. |
| Limit this one game | Set time limits > Apps, features, and games > App and game limits |
One gap to know about: Xbox says "Approval isn't needed for using currency or XBOX gift cards." Purchase approval does not stop a child spending a gift card balance.
If the game is bought on your account
Both consoles can share your games with everyone who uses the console. On PS5 the setting is Console Sharing and Offline Play, and Sony says that with it on, anyone who uses the console can play games you have bought and downloaded. On Xbox the equivalent is the home Xbox setting. That is why the age limit on the child's own account matters: it is the control that applies to them, whoever bought the game.
Sources
- ESRB: Grand Theft Auto VI — M rating, content descriptors, In-Game Purchases (read 14 November 2026)
- PlayStation UK: Grand Theft Auto VI — PEGI 18 shown on the UK store (read 14 November 2026)
- Xbox UK Store: Grand Theft Auto VI — PEGI 18 shown on the UK store (read 14 November 2026)
- PlayStation Support: PS5 parental controls and spending limits — Family Management path, age level setting, monthly spending limit (read 14 November 2026)
- PlayStation Support: Play time controls — playtime settings (read 14 November 2026)
- Microsoft Support: Filter inappropriate apps and games — app and game filters on Xbox and Windows (read 14 November 2026)
- Microsoft Support: Spending limits in Family Safety — require approval for every purchase (read 14 November 2026)
- Microsoft Support: Set screen time limits across devices — screen time steps on the web (read 14 November 2026)
- Microsoft Support: Set app and game limits — per-game time limit (read 14 November 2026)
- Xbox Support: Approve a child's purchases — gift card balance does not need approval (read 14 November 2026)
- PlayStation Support: Console Sharing and Offline Play — anyone using the console can play your purchased games (read 14 November 2026)
- Xbox Support: My home Xbox — home Xbox shares your games with others on the console (read 14 November 2026)
Day-one facts, by email
Unlock alert, then one email a week: what changed in GTA 6, with sources.
Related answers
- Official
How much does GTA 6 cost?
$79.99 for the Standard Edition and $99.99 for the Ultimate Edition in the US. In the UK it is £69.99 and £89.99, in the eurozone €79.99 and €99.99.
- Official
Can you buy GTA 6 with a gift card from another country?
No. A PlayStation gift card must be for the same country as the account, and an Xbox gift card only works in the country where it was bought.
- Official
Does GTA 6 need an internet connection to play?
To get it, yes: every copy is a download. To play afterwards, PlayStation's listing says "Offline play enabled".