GTA 6 pre-orders are open, and the most-anticipated video game of the decade is already causing chaos. The sixth installation of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto franchise won't be released until 19 November, but both Sony and Microsoft are already warning of console shortages as people snap up PS5s and Xboxes to play the game on.
If the global economy just about survived the US attack on Iran, GTA 6 might finish it off. Expect productivity to bottom out in late November as people take time off work to play, followed by a collapse in consumption as people shun all other forms of entertainment after getting sucked into GTA 6's vast interactive world.
For those unaware of GTA's significance, the hype can be difficult to comprehend. It's more than just the continuation of a franchise that shaped modern gaming. GTA 5 was a cultural event that generated billions in revenue and kept players engaged for years through GTA Online. GTA 6 has to live up to that legacy and deliver the cultural nostalgia long-term fans crave while also providing an interactive experience on a scale never seen before to justify an almost 13-year wait.
Unlike GTA V, which focused heavily on heists, the new game looks like more of an interactive movie blending crime with lifestyle simulation. We're told to expect a vast map, phenomenal graphics, realistic dynamic weather that alters physics and gameplay and almost endless options for customisation (at least in the Ultimate Edition).
We'll be able to go fishing, paint Lucia's nails and customise the interiors of vehicles. The main story might take around 70 hours to complete, but then there are the side missions. And then you can do it all over again with a different haircut.
What you won't be able to do, though, is hold a real physical copy of the most expensive video game you've ever bought.
GTA 6 Standard Edition vs Ultimate Edition
GTA 6 will be available as a standard (read 'Lite') edition priced at $79.99 / £69.99 and an Ultimate Edition priced at $99.99 / £89.99. The former comes in just within the current baseline of around $70 to $80 for an AAA title but lacks the full richness of the game. Several stores will only be open in Ultimate Edition, and you miss out on many add ons, including premium vehicles and personalised weapons and looks.
Where things get more controversial is that whichever version you choose, it appears there will be no genuine physical edition. If you're really into collecting plastic boxes, you can buy a case with a download code in it, but there will be no disc.
There was some confusion late in the week when someone shared an email from Rockstar Support in which they were told they would "be able to acquire a physical copy during the following months”. It seems that Rockstar was referring to the box with the download code in it.
GTA 6 seems destined to go down as history as the symbolic death knell for physical media. What Netflix, iTunes and Spotify started in movies, TV and music, GTA 6 is finishing in gaming. Many major retailers stopped selling DVDs and Blu-rays in a couple of years ago, but do still sell physical games. GTA 6's precedent is likely to bring that to an end.
For the developer, it makes sense. Cutting discs helps maximise revenue. And by offering boxed codes to retailers, Rockstar can avoid accusations of anti-competitive practices tying players to Sony and Microsoft’s digital storefronts.
With Sony shifting to digital versions of the PlayStation, some argue that discs are already obsolete, but the reality is more nuanced. Some people object in principle to digital media, arguing that it means they never truly own what they buy.
Digital-only games also eliminate lending and the used market. Everyone who wants to play the game will have to buy it, and there's no point in waiting in the hope of finding a cheap copy. Modern AAA games also demand enormous amounts of storage space, driving demand for expansion cards at a time when the price of memory is rising.
Why pre-order GTA 6 if it's a digital release?
Some are asking, if the game is a digital download, what's the point of pre-ordering? It's not like it will sell out.
For game companies like Rockstar, pre-orders serve as both a marketing tool and a financial strategy: they build hype for a release, lock in revenue earlier and help gauge consumer interest in order to forecast demand.
For players, they get a reward for being so obliging. If you pre-order GTA 6 before 20 November you get a code for a Vintage Vice City Pack, which includes a classic car (the ’55 Vapid Stanier), a personal garage, themed outfits for Jason and Lucia, and tropical weapon skins. You also get one free month of the premium online service GTA+, which provides monthly GTA$ deposits, exclusive vehicles, discounts and special rewards.
There's also the chance of a smoother experience with the ability to download the game in advance, ensuring you don't face the possible frustration of overloaded servers.
GTA 6 launches on 19 November for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S.
Can't wait for the release? Get ready with the goodies below.
