Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders opened at midnight, five months before the November 19 release on PS5 and Xbox Series S/X. The standard edition costs $80 in the US, £70 in the UK, and €80 in Europe. An Ultimate Edition (£90/€100/$100) includes exclusive in-game cars, clothes, and weapons, plus in-game stores exclusive to Ultimate owners. Pre-order customers receive a Vintage Vice City pack with 80s-themed apparel.
No Physical Disc at Launch
Notably, the game will not have a physical disc at launch. Copies bought in stores will contain a download code. Video Games Chronicle (VGC) suggests this prevents early leaks and allows parent company Take-Two Interactive to maximize revenue by eliminating manufacturing costs, given development expenses estimated at up to $1.5bn.
Single-Player Only at Launch
Rockstar confirmed that GTA VI will launch as a single-player experience, without an updated GTA Online multiplayer mode. The original GTA Online premiered a month after Grand Theft Auto V in October 2013.
Sales Predictions and Impact
Analysts predict first-year sales of 40 million units, surpassing Grand Theft Auto V's 32.5 million. GTA V has sold over 230 million worldwide. Industry analyst Tom Henderson predicts pre-orders alone could earn $1bn within an hour, dwarfing box office takings of the year's biggest movies.
Setting and Characters
The game returns to the fictional US state of Leonida, based on Florida, featuring a new version of Vice City. Described as a romantic crime drama, protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos are career criminals seeking to go legit.
Production Challenges
Development faced multiple delays and gameplay leaks. Rockstar is also facing legal action for firing 30 employees who allegedly attempted to unionize. Despite these issues, hype remains high, with other major publishers clearing the release window.
