It’s Official: GTA 6 Will Be Unplayable For Millions Under New Restrictions

Grand Theft Auto 6 will finally release in just a matter of months now after an arduous wait for fans, and after the recent announcement of the Netflix gameplay preview later this month, it seems that any further delay rumors should officially be dismissed for good. The upcoming preview is set to air on Netflix August 27 for roughly 20 minutes, likely showcasing never-before-seen gameplay footage and giving fans an actual look at what they can expect in-game for the first time.

With hype at an all-time high at this point, GTA 6 has had its share of disappointments in recent weeks as well, starting with the reveal that it will be among the first PlayStation titles not to launch with a physical disc version. Sony’s recent decision to lean into an all-digital future is not sitting well with gamers, and GTA 6 will essentially serve as the poster child for that initiative.

Further, seeing as GTA 6 will only be released on PS5 and XBOX Series S/X, many gamers are being left in the dust with no PC release in sight. And unfortunately, millions more are poised to be unable to play GTA 6 at launch because of new restrictions that will limit who can access the game even further (via Game Reactor).

Under a new set of age-based restrictions in Australia, gamers will be required to provide age verification to access any adult games with mature themes, such as GTA 6, meaning any gamers under the age of 18 in Australia will not legally be able to play. Microsoft has already issued a statement on the issue, stating the following:

“As part of our compliance program in Australia, beginning late August 2026, adult XBOX accounts must verify their age to be able to access apps and games rated 18+ on the Microsoft and XBOX Store. Access to such content may be restricted unless you verify your age. Apps and games you already own won’t be affected.”

Australia already has relatively tight restrictions in place when it comes to mature or adult-themed content, restricting access to games that include gambling, overtly sexual material, etc. In fact, due to these restrictions, a recent GTA Online update seemingly removed a long-standing gambling feature in the game’s Diamond Casino & Resort.

As such, these newly placed restrictions on adult games are not at all surprising to Australian audiences, though it will certainly come as a blow to many gamers under 18 in the region who were looking forward to playing Grand Theft Auto 6 when it releases on November 19. The game is currently available for pre-order now for PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series S/X, with both a digital and code-in-box option for both platforms.

Grand Theft Auto 6

Released

November 19, 2026

ESRB

Rating Pending – Likely Mature 17+

Engine

Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE)

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer