Fake Grand Theft Auto 6 boxes have already hit store shelves in Malaysia as a local store has opened up unofficial pre-orders.

Talk about getting ahead of everyone else - A video game retail store in Malaysia has already opened pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto 6 even though we still don't know when it's coming out. Gamers Hideout, which is basically Malaysia's equivalent of GameStop (minus the memes), is allowing gamers to reserve their copies of GTA 6 before Rockstar Games has officially opened pre-orders.

For a modest deposit of RM14.90 (approximately $3 USD), Malaysian gamers can secure their spot in line for the two-billion-dollar title. This early reservation system is designed to guarantee players a physical copy of GTA 6 upon its release later this year, presumably after Borderlands 4 comes out in September.

The store's initiative comes at a time when official information about GTA 6 remains scarce. Rockstar Games has been characteristically tight-lipped about the project, releasing only one trailer in December 2023 and leaving fans hungry for more details. The lack of information hasn't dampened enthusiasm, however, with industry experts predicting that GTA 6 will shatter revenue records and other companies like Electronic Arts, Xbox, and PlayStation already adjusting their sales predictions based on its release.

What's interesting about the GTA 6 pre-orders by Gamers Hideout is that it has already begun displaying the fake GTA 6 boxes on their store shelves. These placeholder boxes feature the official artwork that fans have been poring over since its reveal two years ago. While the boxes are empty, they serve as a powerful marketing tool and a physical representation of the pre-order opportunity.

Gamers Hideout's "pre-order for the pre-order" is definitely an interesting result of what's easily the most hyped game of the current generation if not in history. It's also a shrewd move for the retailer, allowing it to gauge interest and potentially secure a larger allocation of copies once the official pre-orders begin.

With GTA 6 expected to break pre-order records and potentially exceed $1 billion in pre-launch sales, the competition to secure physical copies amidst an industry that has become increasingly averse to digital-only releases, is likely to be fierce. As news of the Malaysian pre-orders spreads, other retailers in other countries might want to take notes.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is currently set for a fall 2025 release with a PC port currently in active development.