GTA 6 has "detailed decapitation" and cocaine can be "snorted directl…

GTA 6 has been given a PEGI 18 rating in the UK and Europe, unsurprisingly, but the very detailed description of the game's contents suggests an even more violent, sexually explicit game than you might expect from the notoriously violent, sexually explicit series.

Rockstar's upcoming behemoth has already been rated by the ESRB and other rating systems, but the PEGI rating specifically includes some incredibly juicy new details about the game. In providing a reason for the 18+ rating, the board says GTA 6 features "features strong graphic violence, strong sexual themes and use of illegal drugs." No surprise whatsoever. Sex, drugs, and violence are GTA's whole thing, its central themes, its promise to players. But if I were playing GTA 6 and suddenly someone's head got chopped off in graphic detail, I have to say I'd be a little surprised. But apparently, that's something that can happen in the game. "Violence is bloody with a high degree of realism, with certain weapons being able to cause greater damage such as detailed decapitation and dismemberment," reads the PEGI rating's description.

"Drug use is frequent and prominent with the player being able to partake in drug use with others and to use illegal drugs directly from their inventory," it says, adding, "Most notably, cocaine can be carried around by the player and snorted directly from their hand at any time." Again, I'm not surprised at all that drugs are featured prominently in GTA 6, but I wasn't expecting the player character to huff lines right from their hands. This game sounds wild. hiddenlangkawi.club

"There are also strong sexual themes," reads the rating. ZzzZZZzzZZZzz. Strong sexual themes? That's not the GTA I know. But wait, the game also features "scenes of intercourse and occasional scenes of sexual fetishes," and "In various night clubs the player can also pay for private dances, during which, the game allows the player to move their hands onto the dancers' breasts and buttocks."

All joking aside, GTA 6 sounds like a wildly fun time based on this age rating description. Rockstar has long positioned its next game to be a sweeping evolution of the franchise, its biggest, most extravagant release ever, and the biggest video game release of all time by a variety of metrics. At first I was shocked by the level of detail presented by the age rating, but thinking more on it, these extremely mature features feel like a natural progression for a series that's always been defined by excess. November 19 is going to be one hell of a day.

Here's everything new we learned about GTA 6 this week after Rockstar revealed new details on the animals, activities, and weather in its sprawling open-world sandbox

It's the most wonderful time of the year (at least for us New York City-based nerds). New York City Comic Con is almost upon us, and much like San Diego Comic-Con, we can expect a plethora of exciting news, reveals, and announcements from the most highly anticipated movies and TV shows set to arrive in 2026 and beyond. From new Marvel TV shows to a long-awaited horror prequel and a follow-up to one of the best animated shows from our childhoods... there's truly something for everyone this year at NYCC.

Below, we've rounded up five of the biggest highlights – which was no easy feat given how many exciting things there are to look forward to this year. We've mentioned some of the biggest and the best, but there's still so much more. A panel for the upcoming survival thriller Whalefall will feature a Q&A with star Austin Abrams, and we can't forget about Blumfest, which will tease the horror studio's upcoming slate of films... which may or may not include Five Nights at Freddy's 3 (especially since both Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich will be in attendance this year...)

During the week of NYCC, we'll be keeping you updated with every exciting bit of news that comes out of each panel. There are even some immersive activations, one which may or may not involve being chased by Mrs. Voorhees herself... When you're done reading the below, be sure to head on over to our list of all the upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows.

Marvel TV and Animation

Marvel is known for their big convention appearances, which is where they tend to break the biggest news and give us the most exciting announcements. On Thursday, October 8, Marvel will hold a panel (4:15 – 5:45 pm ET at the Empire Stage) that showcases what's next from Marvel Television and Marvel Animation. This will put a spotlight on the upcoming WandaVision spinoff VisionQuest, as well as season 3 of X-Men '97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man season 2. We also may get an early look at Daredevil: Born Again season 3, the final season of the hit Disney Plus series, as the show just wrapped filming in NYC and has entered post-production.

Blade Runner 2099

On Saturday, October 10, Prime Video is holding a panel for upcoming sci-fi series Blade Runner 2099 (6:45 pm ET at the Empire Stage). The lineup includes stars Michelle Yeoh, Hunter Schafer, Dimitri Abold, Lewis Gribben, Matthew Needham, showrunner/executive producer Silka Luisa, and executive Producers Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson. There will also be a two-floor immersive experience designed to put you right in the middle of dystopian Los Angeles. Open to attending NYCC guests, the off-site experience lets you go undercover as a replicant, test your humanity, and even step into a nigh club straight out of the Blade Runner universe (and we hope a giant neon Ana de Armas is there to greet us).

Crystal Lake

Ever wondered why Pamela Voorhees ended up murdering all those camp counselors? Well, Peacock's Crystal Lake picks up right after little Jason was drowned by those bullies and follows Linda Cardellini as the one and only Mrs. Voorhees. On Thursday, fans can check out a special screening of the horror prequel's first episode (6:30 ET at the Empire Stage), followed by a Q&A with Cardellini, creator/showrunner Brad Caleb Kane, and more. Then, they can head on over to the Crystal Lake booth (1359) on the main show floor for an immersive experience that takes you to Camp Crystal Lake in the 1970s.

Dexter: Resurrection season 2

Dexter didn't die... and he's back to killing bad guys, though he's got his son to help him out this time. A panel for Dexter: Resurrection season 2 will take place from 12:30 - 2:00 PM ET on Thursday at the Hall 1D: Main Stage, and feature stars Michael C. Hall, Uma Thurman, James Remar, Jack Alcott, Bokeem Woodbine, and Krysten Ritter. Paramount is also promising "plenty of killer surprises," so we can expect a sneak preview, and maybe even some casting announcements that we did not see coming... will they confirm that Ritter is returning as Lady Vengeance? Will Dan Stevens make an appearance as one of the show's newest NYC serial killers?

Avatar: Seven Havens

On Friday, October 9, Avatar: Seven Havens, a direct sequel to Avatar spin-off The Legend of Korra, will hold a panel from 11:15 - 12:15 pm ET over at the Main Stage. Moderated by the original voice of Korra, Janet Varney, the panel includes cast members Saheli Khan, Aishu Devan, and Major Curda, as well as executive producers Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, Ethan Spaulding, and Sehaj Sethi. We can expect a sneak peek at the upcoming series, some fun behind-the-scenes fodder, and Paramount has hinted at a possible announcement as to what's next for the Avatar franchise...

For more, check out our list of all the upcoming movies in 2026 that you need to know about, or check our guide to all the new TV shows.

• Heartworm is perfect if you want a throwback to PS1 horror like Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and Clock Tower, but with a modern indie sensibility

Here's the 60-second pitch for why you should play Heartworm this weekend: Haunted by the past, Sam sets out to contact the dead with only a camera at her side. An abandoned house leads her on a path through surreal, liminal spaces haunted by memory, which her camera flash can dispel as she puzzles her way to the heart of a strange cathedral. Retro-style survival horror feels slick to control here with fresh twists like the camera adding to the action, while feeling a love letter to the genre.

Why play it today?

• Heartworm is now out on consoles, bringing its slick take on classic survival horror action to players outside of PC, and it's been a long time coming

Heartworm has finally jumped off the PC to come to all platforms, and publisher DreadXP mean it – coming to PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2, but also the older generation as well. A love letter to PS1-era survival horror, plenty of options allow you to decide how hardcore you want that to be, including the choice to go with tank controls or to turn them off.

With a tremendous horror atmosphere, early hours of the game are tense as you explore with just a camera at your side, able to hit the flash to temporarily light some otherwise pitch black spaces. From there, the game opens up across distinct and surreal environments, each area changing up the style of play slightly, and feeling like they nod towards different survival horror games of the past.

There's a Silent Hill 4: The Room vibe to how Sam navigates the strange, liminal realm she's ended up in to explore these vastly different spaces, from tight hallways in suburban houses to a forest full of its own creeping terrors. Rather than being completely lost in recreating classic survival horror, the moments where Heartworm does its own thing shine, with its TV-static unifying aesthetic being striking, as well as the constant use of your camera.

Time commitment:

Heartworm takes about about 4-6 hours to beat depending on how anxious you get about needing to save your game, how long puzzles stump you, and whether you grab every collectible. Each area is clearly delineated as well, meaning there's easy points to take a break.

Play Heartworm if you love:

Skip Heartworm if you want:

One thing to know:

There are a handful moments in Heartworm that can be a bit too referential, with the final act's breadth of environments sometimes nodding quite directly to survival horror classics in a way that can pull me out. Even so, they're not overbearing, and you're not missing anything if they pass you by, either.

A moment you'll remember:

Like the best horror, Heartworm has a fantastic opening as you explore an abandoned house and the tension rises for just when you'll be thrown into danger for the first time. Thanks to the camera flash mechanic allowing brief bursts of light, Heartworm can make the most of some truly dark locations. These become less prominent later, but it makes for a really memorable beginning.

The final verdict:

In my Heartworm horror spotlight when it launched on PC last year I said that "if, like me, you love retro survival horror from the '90s and '00s, you owe it to yourself to make an evening out of this one" and I stand by that. But, I'll also accept if you need to make it a few evenings rather than binge this snappy adventure in one go. In the time since launch, my fondness for this blend of modern ideas with retro concepts has only grown, and I look forward to seeing more from developer Vincent Adinolfi in the future.

So, where can you play it?

Heartworm has just launched across all major platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, and Nintendo Switch, joining its original PC release. Across them all it's about $15 making this well worth picking up as a budget release.

Have your say:

Check out our best survival horror games list for more!