While the release of Grand Theft Auto VI is now set for November 19, 2026, the slightest word about it has the effect of a tidal wave. However, one of the most influential men in the world in the field of tech, Elon Musk, has publicly declared that he will not play the game. And it is neither for lack of time nor for disinterest in gaming.
During an exchange with Nikhil Kamath in the podcast People by WTFthe CEO of SpaceX and Tesla shared his discomfort with GTA 5’s gameplay mechanics, saying they quickly caused him to give up.
A game mechanic that bothers Musk
Asked about his experience with the Rockstar Games franchise, Elon Musk did not mince his words. “I only played GTA a little bit because I didn’t like the fact that… Like in GTA 5, you literally can’t progress without killing the police.”
This game design choice, emblematic of the series, clearly does not fit with his personal values. “And I was like, ‘That doesn’t suit me’. I actually don’t like killing NPCs in video games. It’s not my thing.”
A final decision against GTA 6
While millions of players are scrutinizing the slightest image or rumor around GTA 6, Musk has decided: he will not play it. His decision seems linked to a specific scene from the previous opus, which deeply disturbed him. “I stopped when the game told me the only way forward was to shoot the police. I said to myself ‘I don’t want to do that’.” Even if GTA is a satirical fiction, this reaction reminds us that certain players – even very influential ones – can be put off by certain mechanics that have become classics of the genre.
The statement that divides fans
Unsurprisingly, Elon Musk’s comments ignited social networks. For some, this posture reinforces his image as a man of principles. Others, on the other hand, see it as a misunderstanding of the GTA universe, renowned for its violent satire and social criticism through the absurd.
In any case, this position could relaunch the debate on the representation of violence in video games, especially at a time when GTA 6 promises to be more realistic than ever.
GTA 6: still the king of waiting
With a launch pushed back to the end of 2026, GTA 6 continues to make waves despite Rockstar’s cautious silence. Every trailer, leak, or screenshot is dissected by the community.
Elon Musk’s intervention, even if it will undoubtedly not affect the sales of the game, shows to what extent GTA has become a cultural phenomenon which goes far beyond the framework of gaming. Even those who don’t play it have an opinion – and a say.