In Brief:
- New GTA College Course: The University of Tennessee will offer a class titled “Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980 through the GTA Video Games” starting January 20, 2026.
- Professor Tore Olsson’s Role: Following his success with a Red Dead Redemption themed class, Professor Tore Olsson is leading this new course.
- Connection to GTA 6: Originally planned around GTA 6’s initial fall 2025 release date, the course will proceed despite the game’s delay to May 26, 2026.
A new college course centered around the popular video game series Grand Theft Auto (GTA) has been announced at the University of Tennessee, poised to begin on January 20, 2026. This innovative class, titled “Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980 through the GTA Video Games,” aims to provide students with a unique lens on recent American history, using the fictional settings and narratives of the GTA video games.
The course is the brainchild of Professor Tore Olsson, who has previously gained attention for integrating video games into his teaching methodology with the Red Dead Redemption games. These games, lauded for their historical accuracy, helped students explore American history from 1899 to 1911. Encouraged by the success of this approach, Olsson authored the book “Red Dead’s History,” narrated in audiobook form by Roger Clark, the voice actor of the game’s protagonist, which was well-received by the fans.
Considering the success of his previous endeavors, Olsson hinted at the possibility of a new book tied to the upcoming GTA class. He mentioned to IGN that he is “very much considering the possibility” and teased the involvement of “an equally perfect audiobook narrator,” sparking curiosity about who might voice this potential project.
The course was originally designed to coincide with the anticipated release of GTA 6 in fall 2025, making the game a concurrent study subject. However, despite the game’s delayed release to May 26, 2026, the course will proceed as planned. The class has no prerequisites and is open to students interested in examining the interplay of socio-political and cultural transformations in the United States through the prism of GTA’s narrative universe.
In related news, the anticipation for GTA 6 suggests significant impacts on the console business, according to industry analysts. Additionally, fans enjoyed a leak of in-game websites from Take-Two Interactive, offering a humorous glimpse into the game’s content.
For ongoing updates on GTA VI and related courses, enthusiasts are encouraged to follow developments through RockstarINTEL and other dedicated gaming news platforms.
