At midnight on 25 June, the wait for gamers finally ended – at least for those willing to commit £69.99. Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 6 became available to pre-order in the UK and around the world, after the developer unveiled the game’s cover art and pre-sales launch date in mid-June.
The sixth instalment of the blockbuster franchise is set to be the biggest games release of the year, and analysts believe it could become the most expensive game ever made. Estimates put development costs at more than $1bn (£866m).
“GTA 6 pre-orders opened at midnight on 25 June; release set for 19 November at £69.99.”
After two previous delays – from autumn 2025 and May 2026 – Rockstar has settled on a release date of 19 November. When the second delay was announced, the company said it needed extra months to finish the game with the level of polish fans had come to “expect and deserve”.
Players who pre-order will be able to begin pre-loading the game on their consoles on 12 November, ensuring they can play at launch. The game will cost £69.99 in the UK and $79.99 in the US, with an ultimate edition – featuring extra vehicles and weapons – priced at £89.99 and $99.99, respectively.
But physical copies will not contain a disc. Instead, the box will hold a code for a digital download, a move that will disappoint collectors and those without reliable internet.
GTA 6 will be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. There is no news on when a PC version will be released, and it is currently unknown whether it will come to Nintendo Switch 2.
The game will feature its first ever playable female protagonist in a 3D setting – Lucia – alongside her partner in life and crime, Jason, as a second playable character. From the two gameplay trailers released so far, the story follows the pair in a Bonnie and Clyde-esque adventure through the seedy underbelly of America after an “easy score goes wrong”.
Like previous GTA games, the sixth chapter is set in a fictional US state – this time Leonida, Rockstar’s version of Florida. Vice City, inspired by Miami, will return as the main city, delighting fans of earlier titles.
Rockstar has not yet confirmed whether an updated online mode will be available at launch, although given the success of GTA Online, it is likely to exist at some point. How any future age verification legislation in the UK around social media and gaming messaging could affect the game remains unknown.