Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson told The New York Times that his February playthrough of GTA 6 took around 80 hours, covering the main story plus optional objectives that carry narrative weight. For context, GTA 4 and GTA 5 each wrap their main stories in around 30 hours, while Red Dead Redemption 2 sits at 50 to 60 hours. If a developer familiar with the game needed 80 hours, average players jumping in fresh will probably need more.

Part of that comes down to sheer size: GTA 6's map is reportedly about three times bigger than Red Dead Redemption 2's, packed with activities like gyms (back for the first time since San Andreas), kayaking, skydiving, dirt biking, and deep-sea diving. Nelson said the optional goals affect character relationships and mission outcomes, so they're not just busywork. He wants players to slow down and live in the world rather than rush the story.

For completionists, 80 hours is a baseline, with real playthroughs expected to run into the triple digits. GTA 6 launches November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.