Viral memes, celebrity DJs and … microcheating? A small-talk guide to GTA 6.

Grand Theft Auto VI finally hits PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles on Nov. 19, and to say the launch is a big deal would be an understatement. But if you aren’t an avid gamer (no judgment here), you might be wondering why it feels like everyone is treating it like the moon landing. The short answer is that fans have been waiting 13 years for a sequel since GTA 5 came out in 2013.

To give some perspective, GTA 5 came out three days before the iPhone 5s. In that time, we’ve seen the launch of two new generations of gaming consoles, pushing graphics and gameplay in ways that weren’t possible when GTA 5 hit the scene. That means there’s a lot of pent-up demand for the next leap in one of the most popular game series of all time.

We put together this small talk guide to help you join in on the chit-chat, whether you’re a casual gamer or haven’t ever touched a controller before.

Fast facts:

• GTA 6 is the first new Grand Theft Auto game in 13 years.

• The game officially launches on Nov. 19 at midnight.

What is Grand Theft Auto, anyway?

Well, it’s a criminal offense that will get you in a lot of trouble … Just kidding. In the context of video games, Grand Theft Auto is a long-running series of games that kicked off with the original on PC and PlayStation in 1997. Over the course of seven mainline games — and several expansion packs and handheld games — the series has established itself as one of the most enduring gaming franchises over its nearly 30-year history.

So what’s it about? You can think of Grand Theft Auto as a satirical, open-world crime sandbox. The game’s protagonists are involved in the criminal underworld, pulling off everything from bank heists to carjackings and small-time robberies. Some are willing participants looking to climb up the ranks; others have more complicated backstories.

Throughout each game, you complete missions that are part of an overarching storyline. What makes them alluring, though, is that you don’t have to rigidly follow the story from start to finish. You’re free to roam the world and do whatever you want, and there are a ton of side activities to get lost in. In GTA 5, for example, you can play golf and tennis, or practice your aim at a shooting range. You can also become a bounty hunter, tracking down and capturing fugitives. Or you can simply run around causing mayhem with your arsenal of weapons and explosives. In fact, one of GTA 6’s developers recently said he enjoys just riding buses across the map. The world truly is your oyster.

Each game also takes place in a fictional city or region that’s heavily based on real-world locations. GTA 6 is set in Leonida, a Florida analog complete with its own version of Miami called Vice City. The locations and stories are loaded with satirical takes on pop culture phenomena and dark humor that mocks consumerism, corporate greed, celebrity worship and reality TV.

I heard people are using sick time to play GTA 6. Is that true?

Yes, it looks like the “GTA Flu” is real, and it’s pretty widespread. It’s estimated that around 1.5 million Americans are planning to call in sick or use paid time off for the launch. One economist even predicts that GTA 6‘s launch may cost $1 billion in lost productivity.

But rather than fighting the inevitable, at least some companies are giving employees the day off. Computer accessory company Logitech is taking the opportunity to launch its first gaming holiday — “Logi Game Day” — giving its 7,000 employees the option to take a day off on any one of a number of game release dates over the next year.

“It’s time to retire the stereotype that gaming is a waste of time,” Hanneke Faber, Logitech’s chief executive officer, said in a press release. “As a company designing products for work and play, we see every day how engagement in one sphere supports performance in the other.”

Pocketpair, the developer behind a game called Palworld, is giving its employees five days off to play GTA 6. Even the U.S. Army is getting in on the action, with the 3rd Infantry Division giving active duty soldiers four days to play the game if they reenlist for at least two years. Would you trade two years in the military for four days of GTA? I’m not sure I would, but to each their own!

In other words, if half of your Slack chat is suspiciously “sick” on Nov. 19, don’t be surprised.

The realism is uncanny

Have you seen the screenshots and clips of GTA 6 that Rockstar has released so far? They’re breathtaking, and people are taking notice. A handful of clips from the game have gone viral on social media because people are mistaking them for real-life shots in Miami. Here’s a sampling.

The lines are blurring the other way too. GTA 6 fever has hit several locations in Miami, which have been temporarily transformed into Vice City. That includes a “Welcome to Vice City” sign on top of Miami’s Kaseya Center along with lighting installations at the Miami airport and PortMiami.

One game character is sparking jealousy among some men’s partners

One of the biggest changes coming with GTA 6 is that you can choose to play as either the male or female protagonist, Jason and Lucia. However, both are involved in the story, which gives players the option to nurture their relationship. For those playing as Jason, that includes sending texts to Lucia and taking her on dates.

This briefly sparked a bit of a debate online about whether this counts as cheating on your real-life partner. Some partners certainly think it is and are “banning” their boyfriends from playing the game — though it’s worth noting that many of the reactions seemed to be in jest. Wherever you land on the issue, it’s likely we’ll see even more discussion crop up online once the game is released.

Pour one out for the ‘We got X before GTA 6’ meme

One of the most enduring memes during the 13-year wait for a new GTA has been the “We got X before GTA 6” meme. We’ve seen it in reaction to everything from aliens to the christening of a new ocean. Starting Nov. 19, the meme will officially be sent off into the sunset.

That doesn’t mean we can’t get “We got X before GTA 7” started, though.

GTA 6 collabs are everywhere

Along with installations throughout Miami, Rockstar is going all-out on collaborations with brands and musicians to mark the launch of GTA 6. 

Nike is releasing limited-edition Air Force 1 Lows with GTA’s iconic six-star wanted level and money-band accents in collaboration with Rockstar and rapper Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack brand. The Miami Heat will wear Vice City jerseys on the court on Nov. 18. West Coast Customs brought several of the in-game cars to life. And British luxury retailer Selfridges opened a pop-up with Vice City merch and a real-life Grotti Cheetah — aka a Ferrari — that’s on sale for $1.3 million. 

Music has always been a big part of the GTA games, and this release is no different. Radio stations in the game feature a slew of celebrity DJs, including Bad Bunny; Lana Del Rey and her husband, Jeremy Dufrene; Morgan Wallen; Kerry King and Tom Araya of Slayer fame; and rapper Trick Daddy.

French electronic group Justice was brought on for the soundtrack, which also features music from major artists like SZA, Cardi B, Tame Impala and Bad Bunny. To celebrate the launch, Rockstar is also throwing a music festival at Miami’s Mana Wynwood on Nov. 21, featuring Travis Scott, Justice, Cardi B and more.

How are GTA fans getting ready?

Beyond clearing a ton of storage space (the game is huge), gamers have been dedicating time to preparing their consoles. We’ll leave you with just a handful of examples.