Pre-orders for the highly anticipated video game, Grand Theft Auto VI, commenced at midnight on Thursday, requiring gamers to make a significant payment before immersing themselves in the virtual chaos set in a fictionalized Florida. Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive Software have maintained a global release date of Nov. 19 for this open-world action-packed crime drama, following several delays, available for Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S consoles.
The standard edition is priced at $109.99 Cdn ($80 US), surpassing the typical flagship game cost of $89.99, with some of Nintendo’s key releases like Mario Kart World for the Switch 2 console also priced similarly. An upgraded Ultimate Edition, at $139.99 Cdn ($100 US), offers various in-game bonuses such as 1980s-themed outfits and vehicles.
This premium edition provides exclusive access to select in-game stores where players can purchase additional content like outfits, hairstyles, and tattoos for the main characters Lucia and Jason. Rockstar has not clarified whether these stores will operate using in-game currency, real-world money transactions, or a combination of both.
Despite pre-ordering the game, players will not be able to play before the official release date of Nov. 19, a common practice for early purchasers. Furthermore, physical copies of the game will not include a disc; instead, Rockstar will provide a download code for installation on consoles.
Take-Two’s shares experienced a nearly three percent increase in pre-market trading on Wednesday. Joost van Dreunen, a games professor at New York University, believes that the pricing strategy will not deter sales, considering the immense anticipation for the game. He views the price as insignificant compared to the hype surrounding the launch.
Grand Theft Auto V, the previous installment in the series released in 2013, has sold approximately 230 million copies, solidifying its position as one of the best-selling video games. Rockstar’s ongoing updates to the game and its lucrative GTA Online mode have been a significant revenue source. The upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to play a crucial role in driving console sales and PC upgrades, impacting not only Take-Two but also the broader video game market.
Rockstar has described Grand Theft Auto VI as a single-player experience, indicating no initial multiplayer content. However, pre-orders will include a complimentary one-month subscription to GTA+, their premium plan for GTA Online.
While Rockstar has released two trailers showcasing the game’s setting and characters since December 2023, little is known about the actual gameplay. The absence of promotional material displaying gameplay elements like maps or menus has led to fan and influencer speculation online, with some sharing falsified or AI-generated videos claiming to be leaked footage of the game.
Rockstar is currently embroiled in an employment tribunal in the U.K. following the dismissal of 34 employees in the U.K. and Canada, a move criticized as union-busting. The tribunal recently ruled against Rockstar’s attempt to dismiss claims of employee blacklisting.
The article is pending rewriting.