Grand Theft Auto

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is a popular game that is produced by Rockstar. Not all Grand Theft Auto games can be played on a mobile via the app, but there are a number of versions that can.
This guide has been written about the Grand Theft Auto games that can be played on the app, but sections are also applicable to the Grand Theft Auto franchise more generally.

Grand Theft Auto is an open world gaming platform in which gamers play with a distinct mission and role within the narrative of the game. Players control characters that complete missions to progress through the game. The game is realistic, sophisticated and is film-like in quality. The game is designed so that players feel that they are that character and are able to live-chat and broadcast their voice to other players.

As of December 2023, GTA Trilogy has been made available for Netflix subscribers and can be downloaded through a Netflix account onto Android and iOS devices. Since its release on Netflix, GTA has been downloaded over 18 million times.

Official age rating

This is a PEGI 18 game.

The PEGI 18 rating reflects the (often motiveless) killing of other defenceless characters within the game. It also refers to the use of drugs and explicit sexual activity within the game as well as the use of bad language.

The age rating on the Grand Theft Auto app games is 17+ on Google play and the Apple App Store indicating mature content. There are no age verification methods used when creating an account to stop younger players accessing the game.

To download via Netflix, players must be over 18 to create an account.

Find out more about age ratings in our ‘A parent and carer’s guide to age ratings of apps and games’.

How children and young people use the app

Grand Theft Auto is an immersive and complex game. Players can play with friends and become incredibly involved in the gameplay from its first-person perspective and compelling storyline. The adult themed content that includes sex, drugs and criminality within the game may also seem glamorous and exciting for players. The ultimate objective for every player is to complete missions to get to the next stage of the game and its storylines. Players can also navigate the open world by driving cars and customising characters. Some situations are especially tense, heated or dramatic and allow players to roleplay as criminal or lawless individuals.

Key features and terminology

This refers to Grand Theft Auto.
This mode allows you to play with other people. This can either be with selected friends or with other players you may not know.
The chat function allows players to communicate with each other whilst playing the game.
It is possible for players to live stream their game play with others viewing it in real time.
The subscription membership available to players who pay monthly to access exclusive content and bonus gameplay features. Note this is only available to players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
A fictional state based upon Southwest U.S in which the most recent instalments of GTA are based.

Potential risks

Content

There is significant exposure to sexual themes, violence including killings, profanity, drugs and criminality within the Grand Theft Auto game. The story lines in the game are very mature, with references to alcohol, drugs and scenes in a strip club. The adult age rating reflects the adult content that players are likely to encounter within the game, so it is recommended that your child does not play this game.

Story mode is the single-player mode that involves completing missions and progressing through the game, but it is possible for players to play GTA outside of story mode in the GTA open world - for example racing the cars and exploring the world that has been created.

Connecting with others

GTA is designed to be played as a multi-player game with friends or strangers online. Grand Theft Auto is an adult game and exposes players to random adults that they meet through the game. This clearly presents unknown risks in relation to bad language and influence, bullying and exploitation. However, players of Grand Theft Auto do have the option to amend their settings to restrict contact to only those in their designated friends list. If you choose to allow your child to play, it is recommended that they play with known friends only.

Parents should also be aware that some players use third party chatting apps like Discord to chat whilst gaming. Check in with your child to see if they are chatting with others whilst playing and remind them of the risks of chatting with strangers.

Design, data and costs

Grand Theft Auto can be immersive and compelling for players, which can result in extended stints of gameplay and strong emotions. Weekly updates, regular special events, and constant new challenges and missions mean that players are consistently encouraged to keep coming back to the game. Getting players to step away from games of this kind can be challenging as users enjoy the status and sociability of the game. If you allow your child to play GTA, it is recommended that players use gaming rounds to balance game times with times when they can take a break.

As with many games played via an app, it relies on in-game purchases to create additional revenue. There is a strong element of social pressure to make purchases when playing with friends. Players should be aware of in-app purchases and ensure they understand that real money is used to make purchases within the game. You can also set up relevant in-app purchase settings on the device.

Parents must also be aware that Netflix has seen a huge increase of subscription as players are choosing to sign up just to play the games available to account holders. Although there are no in-app purchases for the games downloaded through Netflix, parents should be aware that a Netflix account is a paid-for monthly subscription.

Tips for keeping your child safe

As this has an adult age rating, there are limited controls and settings available to parents and carers for this game. Instead, you will need to look at the settings on the individual mobile device to put controls in place.
To set to ‘Private’ on iOS:
- go to the ‘Game Centre’ in the settings area on your iPhone
- scroll down to ‘Privacy and settings’ and change your ‘Profile privacy’ to ‘Only you’
To set to ‘Private’ on Android:
- go to the ‘Play Games’ app, touch the menu icon and click ‘Settings’
- select ‘Game profile’ > ‘Play now’ > ‘Your game profile’
- adjust your visibility and notifications settings to the most private options
To avoid playing with strangers on the game, you can change the settings to ensure they only play with your approved friends list. When players sign in, the default visibility setting is to everyone, meaning their profile is made public. You can alter this by changing the setting to ‘Only me’.
Users can report and block other users who may bother them or behave inappropriately. As GTA can be played on a range of different devices, the methods of reporting and blocking players differs for each device. For specific guidance on reporting and blocking, see Rock Star Games’s guide to managing and reporting abusive players.
Whilst some versions of GTA are free to play, in-game purchases are available. You can disable in-app purchases on each individual device itself.
To disable in-app purchases on iOS:
- go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Screen time’ and scroll down to ‘Content and privacy restrictions’
- select ‘iTunes and app store purchases’ and set the option to ‘Don’t allow’
To disable in-app purchases on Android:
- go to your ‘Google Play Store’ app
- select ‘Menu’ > ‘Settings’ > ‘Require authentication for purchases’
Please note the following steps only cover deleting a Social Club account on a personal device, such as a computer. Users who play Grand Theft Auto Online on either PlayStation or Xbox should follow guidance advised by Sony or Microsoft to delete their gaming console profiles.
To delete a GTA Account:
- submit a support ticket to request ‘Social Club’ account deletion
- users should be advised that this process takes 30 days and is irreversible
- users may also repurchase any video games or DLC that they bought using their Social Club account

Additional tips

GTA is only suitable for users over the age of 18.

There are limited safety options on GTA but there are options to ensure that you only play with people you know rather than strangers.

GTA can be very compelling for users. Where possible, encourage players to take breaks where they engage in alternative offline activities that they enjoy.

Grand Theft Auto

Official age rating

How children and young people use the app

Key features and terminology

GTA

Multiplayer

Chat

Live stream

GTA+

San Andreas

Potential risks

Content

Connecting with others

Design, data and costs

Tips for keeping your child safe

Managing privacy

Managing interactions and content

Reporting and blocking

Managing time and purchases

Account deactivation or deletion

Additional tips