GTA 6 is breaking records even before its release: Here’s how many people have already bought it in the first few days

Start of sales and prices

Pre-orders officially opened on June 25 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. The standard edition of the game costs US$79.99, while the “Ultimate Edition”, which includes exclusive vehicles, weapons and clothing, costs US$99.99, making GTA 6 among the most expensive AAA titles. How much frenzy reigned, is best evidenced by the fact that the first series of physical copies on platforms like Amazon sold out in less than an hour. It’s a clear indication of the huge demand that has been building for more than a decade, as players race to secure their copy.

Analysts predict historic success

While Rockstar is still tight-lipped about the numbers, analysts are predicting an unprecedented financial success. The market research company DFC Intelligence estimates that Rockstar will earn a billion dollars from pre-orders alone and sell an incredible 40 million copies in the first year. Investment bank Piper Sandler is somewhat more restrained with a forecast of 35 million units by April 2027. These numbers, while huge, are placed in the context of the success of its predecessor, 2013’s Grand Theft Auto V, which earned $1 billion in its first three days of sales and has sold more than 215 million copies to date, making it the second best-selling title of all time.

Return to Vice City and the story of the two protagonists

The appeal of the game lies in the return to Vice City, Rockstar’s fictitious version of Miami, but this time within the much larger federal state of Leonidas, inspired by Florida. The game will follow the story of two protagonists, Lucia and Jason, the first male-female duo in the history of the franchise. With a development budget reportedly exceeding $1 billion, GTA 6 is one of the most expensive entertainment products ever. Photorealistic graphics, advanced artificial intelligence and one of the most impressive open worlds created so far are expected, setting new standards for gaming. The official release of the game is scheduled for November 19, 2026.