A US university is launching a Grand Theft Auto–themed history class in January 2026. It’s called Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980 through the GTA Video Games, taught by Professor Tore Olsson at the University of Tennessee. The course starts on 20 January 2026, months before GTA 6 is due on 26 May 2026. The idea: use GTA’s version of modern America as a lens to study real events, culture, and politics — not to grind for a platinum.
What is the GTA college class, exactly?
This is a proper history module, not a fandom meetup. The syllabus uses GTA’s cities, factions and timelines to interrogate US history since 1980.
- Title: Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980 through the GTA Video Games
- Where: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- When: From 20 January 2026 (that’s 20 Jan; early morning 21 Jan UAE time)
- Instructor: Tore Olsson (the academic who previously ran a Red Dead Redemption course and wrote Red Dead’s History)
- Aim: Study American history themes; the games are the framework, not the exam
- No console needed: Students aren’t required to own or play GTA to pass
Olsson told media the class is “much more about American history than the games themselves,” using GTA to structure the discussion of real policies, culture shocks and the way pop culture shapes our view of America. His past work on Red Dead Redemption teaching was profiled by the university and in academic outlets.
Why run it before GTA 6?
Simple timing. Olsson had planned to include GTA 6 in the course, but the game slipped to 26 May 2026. The class goes ahead anyway, focusing on past GTA entries and the America they mirror.
- GTA 6 release: 26 May 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
- Class start: 20 Jan 2026 — four months earlier
- Reason: Rockstar’s date change; the academic schedule can’t wait
For readers in the UAE, the academic story tracks with a wider shift: video games are now squarely mainstream in classrooms and culture. It also shows why GTA 6 timing matters beyond entertainment calendars — courses, books and public talks plan around it.
Our earlier coverage on the rumoured October 2026 slip separates rumour from fact; as of today, 26 May 2026 is still the official line. GTA V was recently approved for release in the UAE, along with GTA Online, so there is a good chance that GTA 6 will release on-launch day, too.
What will students actually study?
The focus is US history since 1980, using GTA’s satire of crime, media, policing and politics as prompts.
- Themes on the table: deregulation and the 80s boom, LA riots and policing, media panics, immigration, Wall Street greed, the war on drugs, post-9/11 security culture
- GTA touchpoints: Liberty City, Vice City and Los Santos eras; talk radio and news satire; in-game elections and corporations
- Assessment: Readings and essays on real history; GTA scenes as case studies, not answers
The model mirrors Olsson’s earlier Red Dead course, where he mapped missions to topics like corporate capitalism and gender politics, then assigned readings from historians. Expect similar scaffolding here, just shifted to late-20th-century America.
Do you need to play GTA to pass?
No. Olsson stresses that students don’t need to buy a console, PC, or the games.
- Access: No purchase required; the course isn’t a lore quiz
- Method: Lectures, curated clips, and academic readings
- Outcome: Understand the history GTA riffs on — and how pop culture reframes it
That keeps costs down for students — a point that will land with UAE readers too, given how pricey gaming is here compared to other regions.
When does the GTA history class start, and where?
20 January 2026 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. That’s the evening of 20 Jan in the US, and overnight into 21 Jan (UAE time).
Is GTA 6 included in the syllabus?
It was planned, but with GTA 6 scheduled for 26 May 2026, the class will lean on earlier GTA titles and related readings.
Do students need to own or play the GTA games?
No. The professor says owning or playing the games isn’t required; the course uses curated material and academic texts.
