GTA 6 Rated Adults-Only in Japan and South Korea: CERO Z and 19+ Confirmed

Grand Theft Auto VI now has age ratings in Japan and South Korea, and both are as high as they go. As of October 17, 2026, the Japanese PlayStation Store lists the game as CERO Z, the "18 and over only" tier. One day earlier, South Korea's private ratings board gave it an adults-only (19+) rating, Inven reports. The last two big ratings were settled with about a month to go before the November 19 launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Japan: CERO Z, with crime and violence icons

Game*Spark noticed that the Japanese PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store pages switched from "rating pending" to Z. Denfaminicogamer confirmed the same rating on both storefronts. The rating carries two content icons: crime and violence. GTA V got the same pair in Japan.

The rating was still listed as pending in the launch trailer on October 15, per Game*Spark. Some quick context on what Z means:

• CERO Z is the only Japanese tier that's a hard sales restriction. PlayStation Japan defines it as "18 and over only."
• The Japanese store page says CERO Z games can't be sold to anyone under 18. They also have to be paid for by credit card, whatever your PSN wallet balance is.

South Korea: 19+ from the GCRB

Inven says the Game Content Rating Board (GCRB) made its decision on October 16. The private body took over adult PC and console ratings from the government's GRAC in November 2025. Electronic Times notes that GTA 6 is the most closely watched game the GCRB has rated so far. The rating clears the game for its Korean release on November 19.

HeistAtlas reports that the Korean PlayStation Store lists five descriptors: crime, drugs, language, sexual content and violence. The rating wasn't a sure thing, Inven points out. GTA V passed in 2013, but Korea refused to rate Danganronpa V3 in 2017.

Will Japan get a different version?

This is the big open question. CERO also has icons for sexual content and drugs, and GTA 6 carries neither. Meanwhile, the PlayStation Store rating notes in Australia and New Zealand specifically mention "Sex Scenes," Game*Spark notes. Game*Spark points out that the Japanese release of GTA V had altered sex scenes and some gore removed. As of October 18, Rockstar hasn't said whether the Japanese GTA 6 will differ from other versions. Until it does, treat any talk of cuts as speculation.

Elsewhere, Electronic Times lists the ratings already known: ESRB M in the US, PEGI 18 in Europe and R18+ in Australia.

What's next

• November 12: pre-loads open, seven days before launch (how pre-load works).
• November 19: GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
• Rockstar is still polishing the build, so watch for any word on regional differences as it heads toward gold.

If you're buying for someone else, check the account's age settings now. A blocked purchase on launch night is no fun.