Pre-orders for the highly anticipated video game, Grand Theft Auto VI, became available at midnight on Thursday. Gamers eager to dive into the virtual chaos of a fictionalized Florida will need to commit a substantial amount of money. Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive Software have confirmed a global release date of Nov. 19 for this open-world action adventure crime drama, following several delays, targeting the Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S consoles.
The standard edition of the game is priced at $109.99 Cdn ($80 US), surpassing the typical flagship game price of $89.99. Notably, leading Nintendo Switch 2 titles like Mario Kart World are also priced at this level. For a higher cost of $139.99 Cdn ($100 US), players can opt for the Ultimate Edition, which includes exclusive in-game bonuses such as 1980s-themed outfits and vehicles.
Exclusive in-game shops accessible only through the Ultimate Edition offer additional content like outfits, hairstyles, and tattoos for the main characters Lucia and Jason. Details on whether these shops will operate using in-game currency, real-world money, or a combination of both remain unclear.
Despite pre-ordering the game, players will not gain early access before the official release on Nov. 19, a common practice in the gaming industry. Physical copies purchased in stores will not contain a disc but will include a code for downloading the game onto consoles.
Following the pre-orders launch, shares of Take-Two experienced a nearly three percent increase in pre-market trading. Industry experts, like games professor Joost van Dreunen from New York University’s Stern School of Business, believe the pricing will not hinder sales due to the immense anticipation surrounding the game.
Rockstar has revealed limited information about GTA VI, emphasizing it as a single-player experience with no multiplayer content at launch. However, pre-orders will offer a complimentary one-month subscription to GTA+, their premium plan for GTA Online.
While Rockstar has released trailers showcasing the setting and characters of GTA VI, actual gameplay footage, including maps and menus, remains undisclosed. Online fan communities have attempted to fill this void with fabricated or AI-generated videos, sparking speculation and excitement among gamers.
On the corporate front, Rockstar is embroiled in an ongoing employment tribunal in the U.K. after terminating 34 employees in the U.K. and Canada, a move criticized as union-busting. The tribunal recently rejected Rockstar’s bid to dismiss claims of employee blacklisting.
As the gaming community eagerly awaits the release of GTA VI, the title holds significant importance for Take-Two and the broader video game market, known for driving console sales and PC upgrades with each new installment.