Pre-orders for the highly anticipated video game, Grand Theft Auto VI, became available at midnight on Thursday, requiring gamers to invest a substantial amount of money before immersing themselves in the virtual chaos set in a fictionalized Florida. Developer Rockstar Games and publisher Take-Two Interactive Software have maintained a global release date of Nov. 19 for this open-world action adventure crime drama, following several delays, tailored for the Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S consoles.
With the standard edition priced at $109.99 Cdn ($80 US), it surpasses the typical flagship game price tag of $89.99, a trend that has been gradually escalating over the years. Notably, Nintendo’s significant releases for the Switch 2 console, such as Mario Kart World, also retail at the same price point. For those looking for additional in-game content, the Ultimate Edition, priced at $139.99 Cdn ($100 US), offers a range of extras, including 1980s-themed costumes and cars.
Exclusive access to in-game shops where players can purchase extra content like outfits, hairstyles, and tattoos for the main characters Lucia and Jason is reserved for those opting for the Ultimate Edition. However, Rockstar has not clarified if these stores will operate on in-game currency, real-world money transactions, or a combination of both.
Despite pre-ordering the game, players will not be able to access it before the official release date of Nov. 19, a common practice in the gaming industry. Physical versions of the game will not include a disc; instead, Rockstar will provide a code for players to download the game onto their consoles.
Shares of Take-Two observed nearly a three percent increase in pre-market trading on Wednesday. Joost van Dreunen, a games professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, expressed confidence that the pricing strategy would not significantly impact sales, considering it as “a rounding error against the anticipation.” He suggested that the pricing might establish a new standard for blockbuster titles with limited alternatives but would not likely affect mid-tier publishers. Van Dreunen emphasized that GTA VI’s pricing would widen the gap between high and low-priced games rather than affecting all game prices universally.
The prior installment in the series, Grand Theft Auto V, released in 2013, has sold approximately 230 million copies, solidifying its position as one of the top-selling video games. Rockstar continuously updates the game and its GTA Online mode, reportedly generating $1 million US in revenue daily. Consequently, GTA VI is pivotal for Take-Two and the broader video game market, as the franchise traditionally drives console sales and PC upgrades.
Rockstar has described GTA VI as “a single-player experience,” indicating the absence of online multiplayer content at launch. However, pre-orders will include one month of GTA+, their premium subscription plan for GTA Online, at no additional cost.
Although Rockstar has released two trailers since December 2023, offering insights into the setting and characters, little has been revealed about the actual gameplay, including maps or menus. Online fan accounts and influencers have attempted to fill this void with fabricated or AI-generated videos allegedly showcasing leaked game footage over the years.
As Rockstar remains embroiled in an employment tribunal in the U.K. following the dismissal of 34 employees in the U.K. and Canada, the company’s actions have been criticized as union-busting. The tribunal recently rejected Rockstar’s plea to dismiss claims of blacklisting against some employees.
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