Take-Two Interactive’s Rockstar Games will launch Grand Theft Auto VI on Nov. 19. It arrives for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and X devices at $79.99 for the standard edition and $99.99 for the ultimate version.
Rockstar Develops Grand Theft Auto VI
Development on the crime series installment began in 2015. A group of developers from Rockstar North took exploratory trips to Miami for research, as detailed by The Guardian.
Lead developers immersed themselves in the physical locations and history of the city. “Before you’re doing hyper-organised research trips, you’re immersing yourself in the place and its history, the vibe of it,” said Rob Nelson, one of the lead developers on GTA VI.
That decade of work birthed Vice City within Leonida. This virtual Florida serves as the setting for protagonists Jason and Lucia.
Analysts Forecast High Sales
Roth analyst Eric Handler estimated that Rockstar spent more than $1 billion developing the game. Take-Two Interactive supported this with financial patience. Presales are performing well, said Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick.
“That’s a good thing. That said, we never claim success before it occurs,” Zelnick told Variety.
Sensor Tower estimated more than 12 million preorders through Nov. 13. Morgan Stanley forecasted sales of 40 million copies by March 2027, as reported by CNBC.
Workers Plan Time Off for Launch
Workplace platform BambooHR reported that paid time off requests for the release date are nearly 13% higher than equivalent days in 2024 and 2025. Nearly one in five workers plan to take time off. Professional services firm PwC projected that food delivery services, Miami tourism, and music streaming could see a boost.
Grand Theft Auto VI pre-loading is now available for everyone who has pre-ordered. If you still have yet to pre-order, now’s the time to make sure you're prepared for November 19: https://t.co/LUoPLobocD pic.twitter.com/TLtJUSFBwN
Tom Petty’s “Love Is a Long Road” featured in the initial trailer in December 2023. It experienced a surge of more than 37,000% in Spotify streams following the trailer’s debut.
| Metric or Projection | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition Price | $79.99 | Variety |
| Ultimate Version Price | $99.99 | Variety |
| Estimated Preorders (through Nov. 13) | Over 12 million | CNBC |
| Take-Two Net Bookings (July-Sept. Quarter) | $1.6 billion | Variety |
Company Reports Quarterly Results
Take-Two reported net bookings of $1.6 billion for the July-Sept. quarter. It also reported a net loss of $54 million. Game revenue reached $1.38 billion. Ad sales reached $121 million.
Wall Street had forecasted an EPS loss of 86 cents on $1.66 billion in revenue. The company reported a loss per share of 29 cents.
Creators anticipate the game will fuel audience growth on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Creator Deansocool said the title represents an opportunity for digital expansion. The game “is going to make a lot of millionaires in 2027,” Deansocool told CNBC.
Players can purchase the game on Nov. 19 for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series S and X.
Earlier coverage: GTA 6 Pre-Orders Break Digital Records Ahead of November Launch
