GTA 6 Made $1 Billion in Its First Hour, Report Says

While word on the street is that Grand Theft Auto 6 has surpassed 39 million copies sold through pre-orders, an analysis of Take-Two Interactive’s financial activity suggests the company generated $1 billion within an hour of pre-orders going live. Almost everyone expected Grand Theft Auto 6‘s release to post eyebrow-raising numbers. However, generating $1 billion in revenue in just one hour is still an virtually unheard of achievement in today’s gaming industry.

For comparison, Grand Theft Auto 5, one of the best-selling games of all time, took three days to reach the $1 billion mark. Of course, GTA 6 is a more expensive game, which likely helped it reach that reported milestone faster. Still, considering the game has yet to launch, the fact that millions of people have seemingly trusted Rockstar Games with their money so quickly speaks volumes about the level of trust the company has built with its audience.

Analysts Predict How Much Revenue GTA 6 Will Generate in Its First 2 Months

An analyst groups shares its prediction for Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 6, stating that the game will earn an eye-watering amount within two months.

Take-Two Interactive Shares Rose by 3%, Researcher Says

gta 6's jason duval with a vintage hairstyle and a pair of vintage glasses.

Anthony Palomba, a researcher and professor at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, reports that GTA 6‘s anticipated pre-orders caused a significant shift in Take-Two’s stock. According to Palomba, “Take-Two shares rose almost 3% in early trading when pre-orders opened, and some analysts modeled as much as $1 billion in revenue in the first hour alone.” While there are still no official sales figures, the stock market data suggests GTA 6 has likely become the fastest entertainment product to generate $1 billion in revenue, taking the record from its own predecessor and likely ensuring Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive keep the title for years to come.

Click on the game with the higher OpenCritic rating.

GTA 6’s Pre-orders Gauge Something More Than ‘Demand’

Palomba believes that for a big-budget triple-A game like GTA 6, which is almost certain to be financially successful, pre-orders serve as more than just a way to test demand. He believes that pre-orders in the case of GTA 6 are “an instrument for sizing and reducing the risk around demand.” The pre-order numbers, according to Palomba, show Rockstar Games and Take-Two how many copies to manufacture and how to prepare servers for downloads ahead of launch. They also help minimize potential risks caused by negative reviews or shifts in demand.

gta 6 character raul bautista's illustration.

Palomba isn’t the only researcher who has commented on GTA 6‘s financial potential. Back in July 2025, other analysts predicted that Rockstar’s upcoming open-world game could generate a whopping $7.6 billion in its first two months on the market. Most of that figure is attributed to potential revenue from GTA 6 Online, which is expected to launch shortly after the base game.

It is unlikely that fans will have any reliable source to verify the estimated sales numbers and revenue figures circulating about GTA 6 before Take-Two decides to share official details. That said, as the anticipated launch date, November 19, gets closer, there will likely be more reliable information from third-party tools and retailers that will give fans a better idea of roughly how many copies GTA 6 has actually sold.