Last updated: 25 June 2026

GTA 6 tips: mistakes new players will make

Most early frustration in a new open-world game comes from a handful of avoidable mistakes — rushing the tutorial, ignoring the map, blowing your starting cash. Here are the traps to dodge, starting before launch and through your first hours in GTA 6.

01Before launch

• Buying the wrong edition or platform. Confirm your platform first (PC comes later than PS5/Xbox), and check the edition before you pay.
• Forgetting storage. It'll be a big install — clear space ahead of launch week so you're not deleting games on release night.
• Drowning in leaks. Unofficial "leaks" spike before launch; most are unverified and many spoil the opening.

02Your first hours

• Sprinting through the tutorial. The opening teaches systems you'll use for dozens of hours — don't skim it.
• Ignoring the map. Not learning the geography early makes every chase and getaway harder than it needs to be.
• Spending money the second you get it. Early cash goes further on things that actually help you progress.
• Picking fights with police for fun. Entertaining for five minutes, then a long chase. Learn the heat system before you test it.

03Mindset that saves you time

Treat your first session as learning the controls and the world, not racing the story. Players who slow down early tend to enjoy the mid-game far more — they know the map, have some cash banked, and aren't fighting the basics.