GTA History Class Launches Before GTA 6 Release

Rockstar Fans Can Brush up on GTA History in College Before Loading into GTA 6

The wait for GTA 6 feels endless, and Rockstar fans now have something unexpected to fill the gap: a college course on GTA history. That’s right — students at the University of Tennessee will soon be studying America’s past through the chaotic, satirical lens of Grand Theft Auto.

Starting January 20, 2026, Professor Tore Olsson will teach the world’s first GTA history class, titled “Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980 through the GTA Video Games.” The course will use GTA’s rich narratives, satirical social commentary, and cultural references as a way to analyze the real events and societal shifts of the last half-century in the United States.

Students will attend the world’s first GTA history class at University of Tennessee on January 20, 2026.

The class will use GTA games as a window for understanding the social, political, economic, and cultural transformations that reshaped the United States since 1980. pic.twitter.com/4ta5REaX4Y

— GTA 6 Countdown ⏳ (@GTAVI_Countdown) September 19, 2025

Olsson is no stranger to Rockstar retrospectives. He’s also the author of Red Dead History, an audiobook on Red Dead Redemption narrated by none other than Roger Clark, the voice of Arthur Morgan. Now, he’s turning his attention to GTA — a franchise that has defined gaming culture for decades.

In an interview with IGN, Olsson admitted he originally planned to include GTA 6 in his curriculum. “I first began planning this class more than a year ago, when GTA 6 was scheduled for release in late Fall of 2025,” he explained. “Of course, the recent delay to May 2026 made that impossible. So yes, that’s why we got a GTA college history class before we got GTA 6!”

Olsson also emphasized why GTA is such a compelling tool for teaching. Few developers, he argued, match Rockstar’s attention to detail or their willingness to satirize American society. From L.A. Noire to Red Dead Redemption to Grand Theft Auto, the studio consistently comments — often humorously and sometimes harshly — on the American experiment.

And while GTA 6 won’t be part of this first semester, Olsson promised he will integrate it into future versions of the course once it finally launches. Until then, students will revisit classics like Vice City, San Andreas, and GTA V as academic texts.

It’s ironic, but true: we got a GTA history class before we got GTA 6.

FAQ Section

Q1. What is the GTA history class at the University of Tennessee?
It’s a college course titled “Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980 through the GTA Video Games”, taught by Professor Tore Olsson. The class uses GTA’s satirical lens to study modern U.S. history.

Q2. When does the GTA history class start?
The course begins on January 20, 2026, at the University of Tennessee.

Q3. Will GTA 6 be included in the GTA history curriculum?
Not yet. GTA 6 was originally planned as part of the course, but its delay to May 2026 means it won’t be included in the first semester. Future versions of the class may feature it.

Q4. Who is Professor Tore Olsson?
Tore Olsson is a historian and author of Red Dead History, an audiobook about Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption. He now brings his expertise to GTA with this new academic course.

Q5. Why study GTA in college?
Professor Olsson believes Rockstar’s games offer valuable commentary on American society, economics, and politics, making them an engaging framework for teaching U.S. history since the 1980s.