How long is GTA 6? Rockstar's 80 hours, explained and compared
Rockstar North's co-head took about 80 hours over his playthrough of GTA VI, counting the story and some optional content. What that figure means, how it compares with GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2, and what each hour costs.
GTA VI is not out yet, so the only playtime figure that exists is the one Rockstar has given.
The 80 hours: where they come from and what they include
Rob Nelson, co-head of Rockstar North, told The New York Times that his playthrough took about 80 hours, counting the main story and some optional objectives Reported Engadget, on The New York Times.
The wording matters:
- It is not the story alone. It includes some of the optional content.
- It is not everything. Only “some” optional objectives, without saying how many.
- It is a single playthrough, by someone who knows the game from the inside.
That is why we compare it with the “main plus sides” column for the other two games, which is what it most resembles.
Against GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2
| GTA V (2013) | RDR2 (2018) | GTA VI (2026) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main story | 32 h | 50½ h | No data |
| Main story plus sides | 51½ h | 84½ h | ~80 hRob Nelson's playthrough |
| 100% completion | 89½ h | 195 h | No data |
| Launch price (US) | $60 | $59.99 | $79.99 |
| That price in today’s dollars | ~$86Adjusted for US inflation | ~$79Adjusted for US inflation | $79.99 |
| Price per hour, story plus sides | ~$1.67In today's dollars | ~$0.94In today's dollars | ~$1.00If the 80 hours hold |
Where each number comes from:
- GTA V and RDR2 playtimes are the averages players log on HowLongToBeat, a database where thousands of players record their times Reported HowLongToBeat, GTA V Reported HowLongToBeat, RDR2.
- GTA V launched at $60 in September 2013 Reported Game File, and Red Dead Redemption 2 at $59.99 in October 2018 Reported Forbes. GTA VI costs $79.99 for the Standard Edition Confirmed PlayStation Store.
- Inflation is our own calculation with the official US consumer price index, from each game’s launch month to August 2026, the latest published (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
In the UK GTA VI costs £69.99, which works out at under £1 an hour if the 80 hours hold.
What is not known yet
- How long the story alone takes.
- How long 100% completion takes.
- Whether content will be added later to extend it.
Once GTA VI is out and HowLongToBeat has player data, we will put their figures here and note it in the changelog.
Changelog
This guide is updated when there is new information. Here is what changed, and when.
- First version: Rob Nelson's 80 hours, GTA V and RDR2 playtimes from HowLongToBeat, and price per hour adjusted for inflation with the August 2026 US CPI.
Published 23 September 2026