PEGI has accidentally revealed more about Grand Theft Auto 6 than Rockstar intended. A rating for the game, posted on the organisation’s website and since deleted, went into specific details about violence, drug use and sexual content that the game’s makers have not yet confirmed publicly.
The rating, spotted by GamesRadar+, states that GTA 6 “features strong graphic violence, strong sexual themes, and use of illegal drugs.” That alone is not surprising for a game in this series. But the specifics in each category are the real news.
Violence and Decapitation
PEGI described the violence as “bloody with a high degree of realism, with certain weapons being able to cause greater damage such as detailed decapitation and dismemberment.” That is a step beyond earlier GTAs, which tended to show blood pools, bullet wounds and enemies flopping over in physics-driven animations.
Drugs and Cocaine-Snorting
Drug use is described as “frequent and prominent,” with players able to “use illegal drugs directly from their inventory.” PEGI gave a specific example: “cocaine can be carried around by the player and snorted directly from their hand at any time.”
That is a wild level of detail. The rating does not say what mechanical effect getting wired will have, but it confirms the game lets players use drugs as an interactive item rather than a background detail.
Sex and Strip Clubs
Sexual themes include “scenes of intercourse and occasional scenes of sexual fetishes.” The rating also points to a strip club minigame where players can “pay for private dances” and “the game allows the player to move their hands onto the dancers’ breasts and buttocks.”
The latter sounds very GTA, but the former raises questions about how the game handles intimacy. August’s gameplay reveal showed Rockstar putting serious effort into depicting the relationship between Jason and Lucia, who apparently do not have to be romantic but can be played as a couple in a long-term relationship.
What the Rating Shows
The deleted rating is notable because it went beyond the standard boilerplate. It named specific mechanics — cocaine snorting, private dances, decapitation — that Rockstar has not discussed elsewhere.
| Element | GTA 6 Rating Detail |
|---|---|
| Violence | Bloody realism, detailed decapitation, dismemberment |
| Drugs | Frequent and prominent, cocaine snorting allowed |
| Sex | Intercourse scenes, fetish scenes, strip club minigames |
The rating has been removed from PEGI’s website, but the information is still out there. Rockstar has not commented on these details, and the company has not announced when the PC version of GTA 6 will arrive.
What We Know So Far
- GTA 6 has received an 18 certificate from PEGI
- The rating described cocaine snorting, strip club interactions and detailed decapitation
- The rating has been deleted from PEGI’s website
- The game launches on consoles on November 19
- The PC release date remains unannounced
The rating’s accidental disclosure is a reminder that age classifications can reveal more than their labels suggest. Rockstar may have wanted these details to stay under wraps until launch. Now they are public, and the game’s mature content is clearer than ever.
Whether the cocaine-snorting mechanic changes the game’s reception remains to be seen. For now, the rating offers a peek at what Rockstar is building — and what players should expect when GTA 6 arrives later this year.
Source material: “Grand Theft Auto 6 features 'detailed decapitation' and 'frequent and prominent' drug use, according to hastily deleted PEGI rating,” PC Gamer.
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