On this page
Quick facts
- Rob Nelson's playthrough
- About 80 hours, finished in February 2026 reported
- What it covered
- Main story plus some optional goals reported
- Main story only
- Not announced not announced
- Structure
- Chapters; hideouts change as they advance reported
- Starting area
- Leonida Keys reported
- 100% completion
- Unknown not announced
- Online content
- None at launch official
The 80-hour figure
Rob Nelson gave the number to The New York Times for its preview, published August 27, 2026. His playthrough, finished in February, took about 80 hours and covered the main story plus "some optional goals with narrative ramifications," in the Times' wording as quoted by Vice. reported In other words, some side objectives change how parts of Jason and Lucia's story play out, and he did some of them, not all.
It is one developer's run, not a measured average. Someone who sticks to the critical path will finish sooner; someone who tries every activity will take longer. Reviews in mid-November will give the first outside numbers.
How that compares
The older figures are HowLongToBeat community averages, a reference rather than Rockstar data. reported
| Game | Main story | Main plus extras | Completionist |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTA V (2013) | About 31 hours | About 48 hours | About 80 hours |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) | About 50 hours | About 80 hours | About 170 hours |
| GTA 6 (2026) | Not announced | About 80 hours (Nelson's run) | Unknown |
Nelson's run sits in the "main plus extras" column, level with Red Dead Redemption 2 and well past GTA V. A completionist run through every activity on the GTA 6 activities list should go past 100 hours, though that is our estimate.
Chapters and hideouts
Nelson told Famitsu the story "progresses chapter by chapter" and that Jason and Lucia's hideouts change with it. He compared the hideouts to Red Dead Redemption 2's camps, with residents who follow their own daily schedules. reported Previews add that you cannot buy a safehouse: the story hands you each one. Garages are a separate matter, covered on GTA 6 properties.
The chapter count is not announced. For comparison, Red Dead Redemption 2 had six chapters and a two-part epilogue.
Where it starts
The story begins in the Leonida Keys, per Nelson's Famitsu interview, and Jason's first house is there. reported The Keys are Jason's turf: he lives rent-free in one of Brian Heder's properties in return for doing Brian's shakedowns. Trailer 2 shows Jason collecting Lucia from Leonida Penitentiary. official That suggests her release comes early in the story, though it is our reading. Nelson also described an early high-rise mission that keeps you as Jason because of his military background. The region guide is the Leonida Keys in GTA 6.
What nobody knows yet
- Main story length. Reviews will settle it.
- Number of chapters. Not announced.
- Region gating. The map reveals itself as you explore, but whether chapters lock regions has not been said.
- Post-story play. GTA V let you keep playing after the credits; GTA 6's endgame has not been described.
- Endings. Vice's preview report says relationship choices may affect how parts of the story unfold, but no source says the ending changes, and the number of endings is unknown.
- 100% checklist. We will publish one after launch.
What to do next: read the GTA 6 story so far for the plot, or the GTA 6 gameplay hub for what those 80 hours are made of.
Frequently asked questions
How long is GTA 6?
About 80 hours, going by the only figure from Rockstar. Rob Nelson, co-studio head at Rockstar North, told The New York Times his own playthrough took about 80 hours, covering the main story plus some optional goals with story consequences. There is no official main-story-only figure.
Is GTA 6 longer than GTA V?
Very likely. HowLongToBeat's community averages put GTA V's main story at about 31 hours and main plus extras at about 48. Nelson's 80 hours with some side content lands level with Red Dead Redemption 2's main plus extras, about 80 hours.
Is GTA 6 split into chapters?
Yes. Rob Nelson told Famitsu the story progresses chapter by chapter and that Jason and Lucia's hideouts change as it does. The number of chapters has not been announced.
Where does GTA 6 start?
In the Leonida Keys, according to Nelson's Famitsu interview. Jason's first home is there. Trailer 2 shows Jason collecting Lucia from Leonida Penitentiary, which suggests her release comes early in the story, though that is our reading.
Is the whole map open from the start?
Not answered yet. Nelson told Famitsu that unexplored areas of the map stay hidden until you visit them, but nobody at Rockstar has said whether regions are locked until later chapters. GTA V opened its whole map at once; Red Dead Redemption 2 gated some areas by story.
What changed on this page
- Put the 80-hour answer first, credited it to Rob Nelson's interview with The New York Times, removed a leaked clip we had cited about the opening, and stopped saying Rockstar has tied the relationship to the ending.