Pre-orders for the highly anticipated video game, Grand Theft Auto VI, went live at midnight on Thursday, requiring gamers to make a substantial upfront payment before diving into the virtual chaos set in a fictionalized version of Florida. The game, developed by Rockstar Games and published by Take-Two Interactive Software, is scheduled for a global release on Nov. 19 for the Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S consoles after facing several delays.
Priced at $109.99 Cdn ($80 US) for the standard edition, Grand Theft Auto VI comes at a higher cost compared to the typical flagship game price of $89.99. The Ultimate Edition, priced at $139.99 Cdn ($100 US), offers additional in-game content such as 1980s-themed costumes and cars, as well as exclusive access to in-game shops where players can purchase extras for the main characters Lucia and Jason. It remains unclear whether these in-game shops will operate using virtual currency, real-world money, or a combination of both.
Despite pre-ordering the game, players will not be able to play it before the official release date. Additionally, those purchasing physical copies will receive a download code instead of a physical disc to install the game on their consoles.
Take-Two’s shares experienced a nearly three percent rise in pre-market trading on Wednesday following the pre-order launch. Joost van Dreunen, a games professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, expressed confidence that the pricing strategy would not negatively impact sales, considering it as insignificant in light of the game’s high anticipation.
The upcoming release, Grand Theft Auto VI, is anticipated to be a significant milestone in the video game market, following the success of its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, which sold approximately 230 million copies. The new installment is expected to be a single-player experience at launch, with pre-orders including a complimentary one-month subscription to GTA+, the premium plan for GTA Online.
While Rockstar has released trailers teasing the game since December 2023, details about gameplay mechanics and visuals remain scarce. Various online accounts have attempted to fill the void with fabricated or AI-generated videos, claiming to showcase leaked content from the game.
Rockstar is currently embroiled in a legal dispute in the U.K. after terminating 34 employees in the U.K. and Canada, a move criticized as union-busting. A recent tribunal ruling denied Rockstar’s request to dismiss allegations of employee blacklisting.
The much-anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI release is poised to make a significant impact in the gaming industry, with fans eagerly awaiting its arrival on Nov. 19.