PEGI describes cocaine, decapitation and sex scenes in GTA VI

The European rating board PEGI has published a detailed description of Grand Theft Auto VI. It explains why the game is rated 18, from realistic violence to drugs and sex scenes. IGN Benelux reported it on Friday evening.

The description came one day after the American ESRB gave GTA VI an M for Mature. So far the ESRB has only published short descriptors. PEGI goes further and names specific things players can do. PEGI ratings apply in most European countries.

The story according to PEGI

PEGI sums up the story in two sentences. Players control Jason Duval or Lucia Caminos, two criminals who get caught up in a conspiracy after a robbery goes wrong. Together they sink deeper into crime in Vice City.

Violence

The game shows violence often, PEGI writes. Because the world is open, players can hurt every other character: civilians, criminals and the authorities. PEGI calls the violence bloody and very realistic. Some weapons do more damage and can cause detailed decapitation and mutilation.

Pets can be hurt as well. According to PEGI, that is not shown in as much detail as with people.

Drugs

Drug use is frequent and prominent, according to PEGI. Players can take drugs together with other characters, or straight from their inventory. Cocaine stands out. Jason and Lucia can carry it and snort it from their hand at any moment.

Sex and nudity

PEGI lists strong sexual themes, with nudity, sex scenes and occasional scenes with sexual fetishes. In several nightclubs players can pay for a private dance. The game then lets players put the hands of their character on the breasts and buttocks of the dancers.

Short ratings on the PlayStation Store in Australia and New Zealand already mentioned sex scenes. PEGI now adds the fetish scenes and the private dances.

Language and purchases

The f-word is used a lot in the game, PEGI writes, and the c-word only now and then. Discriminatory language can be heard in TV programmes and on radio stations in the game.

PEGI also mentions in-game purchases. What players will be able to buy is not yet known. In August, IGN reported that Rockstar Games would leave microtransactions and generative AI out of GTA VI.

GTA VI is due on 19 November for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S.