Midnight struck on 25 June, and across the UK and around the world, the pre-order button for Grand Theft Auto 6 went live – the culmination of years of anticipation for what analysts believe could be the most expensive game ever made, with development costs estimated at more than $1bn (£866m).
Rockstar’s sixth main instalment in the franchise is set for release on 19 November, a date that now seems all but certain after two previous delays – first from autumn 2025, then from May 2026. When the second postponement was announced, Rockstar said it needed extra months to finish the game with the level of polish fans had come to “expect and deserve”.
“GTA 6 pre-orders opened at midnight on 25 June for a 19 November release after two delays.”
Players who pre-order will be able to begin pre-loading the game on their consoles from 12 November, ensuring they can play at launch. The game will be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, but there is no news on when a PC version will arrive, nor whether it will come to Nintendo Switch 2.
GTA 6 will cost £69.99 in the UK and $79.99 in the US. An ultimate edition, featuring extra vehicles and weapons, is priced at £89.99 and $99.99 respectively. In a notable shift, physical copies of the game will contain a code for a digital download inside the box, rather than a disc.
The story follows Lucia – the first playable female protagonist in a 3D GTA game – and her partner Jason, in a Bonnie and Clyde-esque adventure through the seedy underbelly of America after an “easy score goes wrong”. The game is set in the fictional US state of Leonida, Rockstar’s version of Florida, with Vice City – inspired by Miami – returning as the main city.
Rockstar has not yet confirmed whether an updated online mode will be available at launch, though given the success of GTA Online, it is likely to exist at some point. How any future UK age verification legislation around social media and particularly messaging in gaming could affect the game, if at all, remains unknown.