Grand Theft Auto Beginner's Guide

New to GTA? Which Grand Theft Auto game to play, how to get ready for GTA VI on November 19, 2026, and how to start GTA Online without going broke.

Updated 1 November 2026Checked for patch GTA VI pre-launch; GTA Online Title Update 1.733 sources
Image: Rockstar Games / YouTube

Grand Theft Auto is Rockstar Games' open-world crime series. You play criminals trying to get rich in satirical versions of American cities – stealing cars, pulling heists and causing chaos in some of the most detailed worlds in gaming. Right now two things matter most: GTA VI, which launches on November 19, 2026, and GTA Online, the live multiplayer world of GTA V.

Which GTA should I play?

Just want the newest?GTA VI launches November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. No PC version has been announced.
Want to play online?GTA V includes GTA Online – a huge shared world that's still getting updates.
Love a great story?GTA IV's Niko Bellic and GTA V's three leads are the series' best-written campaigns.
Curious about the classics?San Andreas is the fan favourite – and Vice City shows where GTA VI's city began.

Getting ready for GTA VI

1. Know the datesPre-loading opens November 12 for pre-orders; the game unlocks November 19.
2. Meet the castGet to know Jason, Lucia and the people around them.
3. Learn the mapVice City, the Keys, Grassrivers and the rest of Leonida.
4. Watch the trailersTrailer 1, Trailer 2, the Extended Look and the launch trailer.
5. Catch up on the seriesSee every GTA game in order before you dive in.

Starting GTA Online

Finish the introThe opening missions teach you the basics and give you your first cash.
Buy a baseAn apartment or office gives you a place to store cars and start missions. Don't spend everything on cars first.
Run Cayo PericoThe heist you can do solo is still the best way to fund your first businesses.
Check the weekly bonusesEvery Thursday Rockstar boosts payouts on selected modes – play those for double or triple money.
Play in private sessionsInvite-only sessions keep griefers away while you run businesses and heist preps.

Want the full history? See every GTA game and every GTA Online update.

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Reference page written by AI (Claude) and checked against the sources above. Games change with every patch – the patch this page was last checked for is shown at the top.