Grand Theft Auto 6 is already turning into a massive business for Rockstar Games, and new pre-order data shows just how willing early buyers are to spend on the game. According to estimates from Sensor Tower’s Video Game Insights, GTA 6 has reached around 4.3 million pre-orders, with an unusually large 89% of buyers opting for the $99.99 Ultimate Edition instead of the $79.99 Standard Edition.
That means the more expensive version is accounting for almost nine out of every ten early purchases. Sensor Tower says premium editions typically represent only around 10% to 20% of pre-orders for major games, while a 50% share is already considered a strong result. GTA 6 is currently far beyond that range.
The platform split is also remarkably close. Around 90% of Xbox pre-orders are reportedly for the Ultimate Edition, compared with 88.5% on PlayStation 5. This suggests the trend is not being driven by one particular platform, with early buyers across both consoles showing a similar preference for the more expensive version.
For Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive, the pricing mix could make the current pre-order total more valuable than the raw unit figure suggests. Sensor Tower estimates that GTA 6 pre-orders had generated around $421 million in revenue as of August 11, with PlayStation accounting for approximately $325 million of that amount.
The current figures are also likely to change considerably before launch. GTA 6 is scheduled to arrive on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. As the release date approaches and Rockstar begins pushing the game more heavily, the audience will expand beyond the fans most willing to place an early order. Sensor Tower expects the Ultimate Edition’s share to decline as more casual buyers enter the market, although it could remain well above the usual level for premium editions.
There is also a bigger sales target being discussed. One analyst estimate suggests GTA 6 could eventually reach 25 million pre-orders before launch, potentially producing around $2 billion in revenue if the current pricing mix remains favorable. That is a forecast rather than a figure confirmed by Rockstar or Take-Two, so the actual result could be considerably different.
Take-Two itself has been careful about releasing an exact pre-order figure. CEO Strauss Zelnick recently described the demand as unusual enough that traditional pre-order comparisons may not tell the full story. The company believes the behavior around GTA 6 is different from what it normally sees with major game launches.
- GTA 6 pre-orders: around 4.3 million
- Standard Edition: $79.99
- Ultimate Edition: $99.99
- Ultimate Edition share: 89%
- Xbox Ultimate Edition share: 90%
- PS5 Ultimate Edition share: 88.5%
- Estimated pre-order revenue by August 11: $421 million
- GTA 6 release date: November 19, 2026
- Launch platforms: PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
The next major boost could come later this month. Rockstar is scheduled to show another look at GTA 6 on August 27, giving players more footage before the November release. With millions already committed to the game and most early buyers choosing the $100 edition, the next few months could give us a much clearer picture of how large GTA 6’s launch is going to be.
Rockstar Games is also preparing another major look at the game. Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look will premiere on Netflix on Thursday, August 27 at 3 p.m. ET, giving fans another chance to see the upcoming open-world game ahead of its November launch. The presentation will later be available on the official Rockstar Games YouTube channel and the Grand Theft Auto VI website at 9 p.m. ET on August 27. With millions of players already placing pre-orders, the extended look could give GTA 6 another push as Rockstar enters the final stretch before release.
