Eight days before its November 19 release, Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto VI has surged past $1 billion in preorders with over 11.27 million units claimed, driven by unprecedented fan demand and intense cultural anticipation.
Preorders Top One Billion Dollars
Market research firm Sensor Tower estimates that players worldwide have preordered more than 11.27 million units of the upcoming title, generating nearly $1.1 billion in revenue ahead of its launch, according to Mashable’s reporting on the preorder milestones. For comparison, the previous installment, Grand Theft Auto V, reached that same $1 billion milestone three days after going on sale in 2013, as noted by publisher Take-Two Interactive.
Chief Executive Officer Strauss Zelnick noted the exceptional momentum during an earnings call with analysts. “Preorders for Grand Theft Auto VI are tracking far in excess of our initial expectations, and we know that the numbers will speak for themselves soon enough,” Zelnick said, as detailed by Yahoo Finance’s coverage of Take-Two’s financial disclosures. Chief Financial Officer Lainie Goldstein characterized the preorder volume as extraordinary.
A US Army battalion is reportedly offering troops four days off to play GTA 6 as an incentive to re-enlist The signed document says soldiers who re-enlist between August 1 and November 14 can receive a four-day GTA 6 pass pic.twitter.com/VoGo38knrd
Speaking on the company’s financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2027 ended September 30, 2026, Zelnick said that overall orders have reached “unprecedented levels,” according to The Wall Street Journal’s earnings coverage. Take-Two reported GAAP net revenue of $1.50 billion, down from $1.77 billion a year earlier, while its net loss narrowed to $54.0 million, or $0.29 per share, compared to a loss of $0.73 per share in the same period last year.
Bank of America Estimates Sales Targets for Grand Theft Auto VI
Bank of America estimates that Grand Theft Auto VI needs to generate at least $1.9 billion in sales to satisfy fiscal 2027 expectations set by investors, while Take-Two has maintained its net bookings forecast of $8 billion to $8.2 billion for the fiscal year. BofA analyst Omar Dessouky anticipates that the company will publish initial sales figures by November 23 at the latest, four days after the game hits store shelves.
An announcement arriving as early as November 20 could point toward particularly strong first-day sales performance, while the absence of a sales disclosure by November 23 could indicate softer-than-expected launch demand. The brokerage maintains a Buy rating and a price target of $330 on Take-Two Interactive shares, representing a 33% upside potential from current trading levels.
Employees Plan Time off for the Game Launch
Human resources software firm BambooHR reported that employees requested November 19 off at a rate 13 percent higher than for comparable days in 2024 and 2025. In a separate survey, 18 percent of salaried workers indicated plans to take launch day off to play the game.
Screen Engine and The Wrap surveys show Grand Theft Auto VI ranking as a top upcoming entertainment property for the sixth week in a row, capturing 8.3 percent of mentions ahead of Avengers: Doomsday at 6.7 percent.
That momentum converges with a crowded release calendar, as The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens the day after the game’s launch alongside new seasons of television series such as Yellowjackets and Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Grand Theft Auto VI Prices and Available Platforms
Grand Theft Auto VI will release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The standard edition carries a price tag of $79.99, while the Ultimate Edition is priced at $99.99. Rockstar opened digital preloads on November 10 to allow players to complete downloads ahead of the November 19 launch.
