The cat is finally, officially out of the bag. After what feels like ages of silence, Rockstar Games has confirmed Grand Theft Auto VI Standard and Ultimate editions will cost $79.99 and $99.99 respectively, making it one of the most expensive standard releases in gaming history. The $80 price tag puts GTA 6 exactly $10 above what most AAA games have been selling for in recent years.
The only other major title to hit this price point is Nintendo's Mario Kart World, while Xbox briefly tried $80 pricing for AAA releases like The Outer Worlds 2 before walking it back. Rockstar, given the scale of GTA 6 and the guaranteed demand, is unlikely to face the same pressure.
The Ultimate Edition includes a large collection of cosmetic items, exclusive in-game vendors like a car mod shop, a tattoo parlor, and a clothing store, plus a range of extra vehicles, weapons, and outfits. The Standard Edition still includes the complete campaign, but Ultimate also lists two exclusive side-mission lines alongside its vehicles, weapons and shops. You can still get tattoos and customize your car without Ultimate, just not at those specific shops. Compare the contents of both editions before deciding whether the $20 premium is worth it.
Anyone who pre-orders the standard edition before November 20 gets the Vintage Vice City Pack, which includes items themed around the 1980s era of the franchise. Pre-orders open on June 25 on PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and select retailers. Digital pre-orders also unlock a pre-load window starting November 12, a week before the November 19 release date. There is no early access period, so everyone starts playing at the same time.
There is no physical collector's edition, and more importantly, no physical disc version at all. For a game this big, that is a big break from Rockstar's own tradition. One thing worth knowing before you pre-order is that PlayStation charges you immediately, Xbox charges up to 10 days before launch, and Amazon charges at the point of shipping. Therefore, pick your retailer accordingly.
The bigger question now is what this price does to the rest of the industry. GTA 6 is the kind of release that moves markets. If $80 becomes the norm off the back of this launch, other studios will follow, and that's a conversation that has already begun both behind closed doors and across online forums.
