GTA 6 is rated USK 18 in Germany and CERO Z in Japan, filling in its last pending age ratings

Grand Theft Auto VI now has age ratings in Germany and Japan. PlayStation's German page lists the game as USK 18, and PlayStation Japan lists it as CERO Z, Japan's rating for players 18 and over. Both were still pending when we last checked, on Oct. 8.

Brazil's PlayStation Store now shows an 18 rating as well, matching the Xbox Store there. That leaves none of the ratings we track pending, 25 days before GTA 6 comes out on Nov. 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The US rating is M for Mature 17+; everywhere else we track, the game is rated 18, or 19 in South Korea.

USK 18 in Germany

PlayStation Germany shows "USK 18" on both the Standard and Ultimate Edition listings. It gives three content descriptors, in German: Drastische Gewalt (explicit violence), Drogen (drugs) and Problematische Vorbilder (problematic role models). It also notes In-Game-Käufe, or in-game purchases.

USK 18 is Germany's highest age rating. On Oct. 8 the same page read "USK Rating Pending."

CERO Z in Japan

PlayStation Japan lists GTA 6 as CERO Z, with two descriptors: crime and violence. Sony's Japanese listing explains what the rating means. It says the game contains content for ages 18 and up under CERO's review, and that it is not sold to anyone under 18.

The same listing adds a rule for buyers in Japan: CERO Z games on Japan's PlayStation Store can only be paid for by credit card, and the card is charged the full price whatever the balance in the PlayStation wallet. On Oct. 8 the page read "CERO Under Review."

Brazil: 18 on both stores

Brazil's PlayStation Store now shows ClassInd 18, for sexual content, drugs, inappropriate language and violence, with in-game purchases noted. On Oct. 8 it still showed the rating as pending, while the Xbox Store in Brazil already showed 18.

Every GTA 6 age rating so far

The ESRB's M rating lists seven content descriptors: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, and Use of Drugs and Alcohol, plus In-Game Purchases. Our Oct. 7 story on the ratings has the PEGI and Australian details, and we've updated it with today's ratings.

What the ratings mean for buyers

In the US, the ESRB says most major retailers have put age checks in place for selling or renting M-rated games. In Japan, Sony's listing is plain: the game is not sold to anyone under 18.

Every rating notes in-game purchases. Rockstar has not said what that covers in GTA 6, and neither Rockstar nor Take-Two has announced microtransactions for it. Rockstar calls GTA 6 a single-player game and has not announced an online mode.

Parents can find what the ratings say is in the game, and how to set age, spending and play-time limits on PS5 and Xbox, in our GTA 6 parents' guide. Rockstar's Launch Trailer post repeats the Nov. 19 date, and our release time guide shows when the game unlocks where you live.