Do I need to play GTA 5 before GTA 6?

No. GTA 6 is a new standalone story in a new place (Leonida) with new leads, Lucia and Jason. You can start fresh.

How does GTA 6 start?

The story follows Lucia Caminos, who opens the game leaving a Leonida prison, and Jason Duval, who comes from a life around smugglers in the Keys. They become a criminal couple.

When can I get the full GTA 6 beginner walkthrough?

At launch on November 19, 2026. Detailed early-mission tips depend on playing the game, so we publish the full walkthrough then.

GTA 6 beginner guide: every pre-launch decision, sorted

Between now and November 19, 2026 there are exactly seven decisions a new GTA 6 player actually has to make: which edition, which console, storage, pre-load, family settings if you are buying for someone else, knowing where the story starts, and not getting scammed while you wait. Here is each one, the way a friend who has done the homework would lay it out.

1. Pick your edition: $79.99 or $99.99

Rockstar’s current lineup has two editions, Standard at $79.99 and Ultimate at $99.99 in the US, confirmed on June 24, 2026. No Collector edition has been announced, so avoid speculative listings. The honest question is whether the Ultimate extras are worth $20 to you; our editions comparison breaks down exactly what each tier includes so you can decide in two minutes.

2. Pick your console (skip this if you already own one)

GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S only, with no PS4 or Xbox One version and no PC version or date announced. If you are buying hardware for this game, read the console decision guide and the fuller PS5 vs Xbox comparison before spending several hundred dollars on the basis of a forum argument.

3. Clear the storage now, not on launch night

Rockstar has not published the GTA 6 install size. Our 150 GB allowance is a planning buffer, not a leaked requirement. Deleting old games takes minutes, but buying and installing an SSD expansion (which Series S owners in particular may need) takes days if you have to order one. The file-size guide has per-console numbers and the storage checklist walks through the cleanup.

4. Mark November 12: pre-load day

Digital pre-orders can pre-load from November 12, 2026, a week early, so the game is downloaded and ready before launch on the 19th. A large download started on launch night is how you end up watching a progress bar while your friends play. How it works, including for boxed download-code copies, is in the pre-load guide.

5. Buying for a household? Set the controls first

GTA 6 will carry an adult rating, and it is easier to configure console family settings before the game is in the machine than after an argument about it. If you are a parent buying for a mixed-age household, the parents guide covers the rating, what the game actually contains, and step-by-step PS5 and Xbox parental controls.

6. Know where the story starts (no spoilers needed)

GTA 6 follows a criminal couple. Lucia Caminos opens the game leaving a Leonida prison, determined to make smarter moves; Jason Duval comes from a life around grifters and drug runners in the Keys. You do not need to have played GTA 5, or any earlier game: this is a new story, new state, new cast. The story overview and full cast cover everything Rockstar has published.

7. Do not fall for the pre-launch scams

There is no GTA 6 beta, no early-access build, and no legitimate discounted download keys before release. Every beta invite, key reseller listing, or APK download you see between now and launch is a scam, some of them credential-stealing. The no-beta explainer covers why, and what the fakes look like.

Thinking about online

A successor to GTA Online is widely expected but not yet announced, so it should not drive any purchase decision today. If you are planning for it anyway, the GTA 6 Online hub tracks every confirmed and leaked detail.