Story can wait: Here’s what fans want to do first after GTA 6 launches

When GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026, many players are expected to ignore the main story – at least at first. In a recent Reddit thread, user u/chitownmike99 asked the community which three things they planned to do immediately after starting the game. While a few fans said they intended to jump straight into the campaign, the overwhelming majority had very different priorities.

The top-rated reply, posted by u/EdsionSnow, lists three classic GTA activities. First, they want to test the driving physics, then completely wreck a car to see how detailed the damage model is, and finally provoke the police to find out how they react. Many other users agreed with that list. Testing the melee combat system or seeing how armed NPCs behave also seems to be a higher priority for many players than progressing through the story.

Not everyone plans to turn Vice City into a war zone right away, however. Many fans say they simply want to take a relaxing drive through Leonida to get a feel for the map, the radio stations and the driving mechanics. Others are looking forward to exploring the streets on foot, listening to NPC conversations and seeing just how alive the world really feels. Some even have specific destinations in mind, including the Ocean Drive-inspired beachfront boulevard, the beach itself, the coastal regions and the perfect spot to watch their very first sunset.

The discussion not only highlights what many players are most excited about in GTA 6, but may also inspire others to think about how they'd like to spend their first few hours in Grand Theft Auto VI (currently available for pre-order on Amazon). If you have completely different plans, feel free to share them in the comments below.