If you’ve been patiently waiting for Grand Theft Auto 6, rest assured: Rockstar Games is delivering an massive experience that will swallow your free time whole.
In an interview with The New York Times, Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson revealed that his own playthrough in February took about 80 hours to finish. While that figure includes the primary storyline alongside some “optional goals with narrative ramifications,” it remains unclear whether that runtime factors in casual open-world sandbox messing around. Regardless, a play session of that scale marks a giant leap forward for the franchise.
Ultimately, Nelson hopes fans take their time with the game and don’t rush through it.
Setting a New Benchmark for Rockstar
That 80-hour baseline officially puts GTA 6 ahead of every previous Rockstar title in terms of sheer runtime:
- Grand Theft Auto IV & V: Roughly 30 hours each.
- Red Dead Redemption 2: Around 50 to 60 hours.
For gamers who have waited years for the next chapter in the series, knowing GTA 6 will easily eclipse Red Dead Redemption 2 in length offers a reassuring sign of what’s to come.
Beyond the Main Storyline
Given that 80 hours likely falls short of 100% completion, players will have endless ways to stretch their total playtime even further. Grand Theft Auto 6 comes stacked with sandbox distractions, including:
- Fishing
- Basketball
- Exercising
- Narrative side missions and branching targets
Just as Red Dead Redemption 2 retained a thriving community years after release through unique NPCs, hidden details, and world depth, GTA 6 is designed to keep players immersed for a long, long time.
In the meantime, you can check out 26 minutes of extended gameplay for GTA 6 in the video below.
