The wait is almost over. Rockstar confirmed that GTA 6 pre-orders begin on June 25. PS5 and Xbox Series owners can wishlist the game on the PlayStation and Microsoft Stores to receive alerts when the pre-order period begins. This announcement came with the reveal of the cover art, but Rockstar didn’t state if multiple editions would be available or if they would come with bonuses.
Should you pre-order GTA 6 straight away? For most people, the answer is probably “no.” GTA 6 will be the biggest game of the 2020s, and millions upon millions of people will want to access the game immediately; however, you don’t need to commit to being part of that crowd on June 25.
Along with presenting a few reasons why it might be better to wait, I will also discuss some exceptions.
The Looming $100 Standard Edition Speculation
How Much Will GTA 6 Cost?
If Rockstar and Take-Two commit to a price on June 25, then this section becomes obsolete.
At the moment, GTA 6‘s price remains shrouded in mystery, but that might change come June 25. Once the pre-orders launch, we should have an idea of how much the standard base version will cost, with the speculated price landing between $70 and $80. The thing is, a pre-order price is not set in stone by any stretch of the imagination, and physical and digital stores have increased it in the past. Amazon’s Star Fox is a current example…
Rockstar and Take-Two has historically pushed the boundaries of industry pricing, with NBA 2K21 being the first standard edition console game to launch at $69.99. In 2023, Rockstar ported Red Dead Redemption to the Nintendo Switch and set the price at $49.99, and new-gen versions of GTA 5 consistently came with fees. Earlier this year, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that the publisher seeks to “charge way, way, way less of the value delivery, “a statement that could be regarded as corporate speak that translates to “the amount of entertainment we provide will make any price a bargain.”
June 25 is the launch of GTA 6 pre-orders, but digital storefronts might not reveal the game’s final regional pricing or tier upgrades until the very last second. Dropping cash blindly on day one without concrete confirmation on whether the base game is pushing past the $70 threshold is a massive consumer gamble, especially for those pre-ordering the digital version.
Grand Theft Auto 6’s Collector’s Edition Items Are Already Obvious
While leaks have supposedly detailed certain editions of Grand Theft Auto 6, the contents of its Collector’s Editions feel fairly predictable.
The Exception: If Money Is No Object & Physical Collectors
GTA 6 will surely fly off the shelves so quickly that finding a copy might be genuinely difficult. If you are an absolute die-hard collector who wants a physical disc or a limited-run physical Collector’s Edition on day one, you probably need to ignore the price tag and simply commit to a pre-order. Brick-and-mortar retailers could have strict, limited allocations for physical stock on June 25, and scalpers will likely target them as that’s the world we live in.
If you want to make sure you have a physical GTA 6 in your hands on November 19, lock it in immediately on June 25, regardless of the base price.
Going Digital? Then No Need To Pre-Order GTA 6 NOW
You Gain Nothing
Generally, there’s no point in pre-ordering digital games unless you really want the bonuses, which Rockstar hasn’t revealed yet for GTA 6. The PlayStation Network or Xbox Marketplace are not going to run out of keys; on November 19, simply buy GTA 6 on your PS5 or Xbox Series X, and it will be yours.
If Rockstar announces bonuses that you want, then you should pre-order GTA 6 a few days before its release. At that point, previews and maybe even reviews should be out, so we will have a better idea of the game’s state and quality. Typically, these bonuses are available until the very last second, and players gain nothing by pre-ordering 6 months ahead of time.
The Exception: None
There’s no argument against this. There’s no advantage to pre-ordering a digital copy on June 25.
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The Unwitting Beta Tester
GTA 6’s Launch State
As November 19 creeps ever closer, the likelihood of GTA 6 honoring its stated debut date increases. Even though it was already pushed back once, we have to assume that Rockstar will be desperate to make sure that GTA 6 meets its holiday season debut. Hopefully, the game will actually be ready.
Nowadays, a triple-A game launching in a less-than-desirable state is almost standard practice, and Rockstar is no stranger to rough debuts. While it worked well on consoles, RDR2‘s PC version had a notoriously poor launch. GTA Online‘s servers struggled during the mode’s launch window, and GTA Trilogy: The Definitive Edition was the definition of a mess.
GTA 6 could very well be the most ambitious open-world game of all time, and a project of this scale seems destined to have a couple of issues. Pre-ordering means committing to playing (arguably) the worst version of a game, and it might be worth waiting to make sure everything works as intended.
I will say, RDR2 and GTA 5 were extremely polished at their console launches, so GTA 6 might follow suit.
The Exception: Cultural FOMO
Speaking honestly, I will certainly pick up GTA 6 on release day, simply to be part of the discussion revolving around the game. GTA 6 is likely to go down as the gaming event of the decade, regardless of whether it launches in a flawless or flawed state.
I know “fear of missing out” is never a good reason to make an exception, but GTA 6 doesn’t operate on the same rules as every other game.
GTA 6 On PC
To Wait Or Not To Wait
On November 19, GTA 6 comes out on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, following in GTA 5 and RDR2‘s footsteps of launching on consoles before PC. Consequently, the June 25 pre-orders will not involve a PC version.
RDR2 came to PC more than a year after its console debut, and the wait was even longer for GTA 5.
This release strategy forces PC gamers with a console to make a choice: now, later, or both. If we were being cynical, this move could be seen as an attempt to encourage double-dipping, as players who pick up the PS5 version might then also buy the “improved” PC port.
This one really comes down to personal preference. If you primarily game on your monster rig, waiting would be the better option, at least for now. Hopefully, Rockstar reveals the PC version’s release date before November 19, allowing everyone to make a more informed decision on whether they are willing to hold off on buying GTA 6.
The Exception: If You Split Your Time Between PC And Console
For the most part, Rockstar designs its games with consoles in mind, specifically PlayStation systems. While we need hands-on experience to say for certain, history suggests that GTA 6 should function well on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. If your goal is to play GTA 6 now rather than later, the decision has been made for you.
Grand Theft Auto 6
- Released
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November 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Rating Pending – Likely Mature 17+
- Engine
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Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE)
