Pre-orders for the highly anticipated video game, Grand Theft Auto VI, went live at midnight on Thursday. Gamers eager to dive into the virtual chaos set in a fictional version of Florida will need to shell out a substantial amount of money.
Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive Software have set a global release date of November 19 for the open-world action adventure crime drama on Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S consoles. The standard edition is priced at $109.99 Cdn ($80 US), slightly higher than the usual flagship game price of $89.99. The Ultimate Edition, priced at $139.99 Cdn ($100 US), offers additional in-game content like 1980s-themed outfits and cars, along with access to exclusive in-game shops for purchasing items such as outfits, hairstyles, and tattoos for the main characters.
Pre-ordering the game does not grant early access before the official release date. Physical versions of the game will not include discs but instead come with a code for downloading onto consoles. Take-Two’s stock rose nearly three percent in pre-market trading, reflecting positive market sentiment.
According to Joost van Dreunen, a games professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, the pricing is unlikely to deter sales due to high anticipation. Grand Theft Auto VI’s release is eagerly awaited as the franchise historically drives console sales and PC upgrades. The game is described as a single-player experience, with pre-orders including a free month of GTA+ premium subscription for GTA Online.
While Rockstar has released trailers showcasing the game’s setting and characters, actual gameplay footage remains scarce. The company is embroiled in an employment tribunal in the U.K. over the dismissal of 34 employees, a move criticized as union-busting. Despite the lack of gameplay visuals, fan and influencer content flooding the internet has kept excitement high.
